Miss World 2023 to be held in the UAE

The global pageant will make its debut in the Middle East

Miss World 2021 contestants arrive at their hotel in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. A total of 98 participants competed for the crown. All photos: EPA

From left, Miss France, April Benayoum; Miss Japan, Tamaki Hoshi; Miss Venezuela, Alejandra Conde; and Miss Somalia, Khadija Omar, at the welcoming ceremony.

Miss World 2021 was to be crowned on December 16, 2021, but was finally crowned on March 16, 2022.

Toni-Ann Singh from Jamaica is the longest-reigning Miss World, having held the title since 2019 owing to the pageant being cancelled in 2020.

Miss World Colombia, Andrea Aguilera.

Miss World Bahamas, Sienna Evans, speaks with her companions Miss France, April Benayoum, Miss Japan, Tamaki Hoshi, Miss Venezuela, Alejandra Conde, Miss Somalia, Khadija Omar and Miss Cameroon, Audrey Nabila.

Miss World Puerto Rico, Aryam Diaz.

Miss World 2021 contestants wave the Puerto Rican flag at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico.

Update: The Miss World Organisation announced on June 8 that the 2023 final will be held in India, not the UAE

For the first time, Miss World will be held in the UAE, it was announced on Monday.

This will mark its first foray into the Middle East and will be the first time it has been held since Nepal-born British businessman Deependra Gurung became the company's new co-owner.

Miss World Limited chairperson Julia Morley made the announcement on Instagram, saying she's “delighted” over the decision to host the 71st beauty pageant in the Emirates.

“Further details to follow,” she said, referring to a date and venue for the pageant.

The last pageant was held in March last year in Puerto Rico, where Polish beauty queen Karolina Bielawska was named Miss World 2021, beating runners up Miss USA Shree Saini and Ivory Coast's Olivia Yace, who was favoured to win.

Bielawska made history by becoming only the second Polish beauty queen to win the title.

The competition had been postponed from December 2021 after a Covid-19 outbreak among contestants and crew.

Contestants from 98 countries took part in Miss World 2021, including Khadija Omar, Somalia's first hijabi candidate.

Before Bielawska, the title was held by Miss Jamaica World 2019, Toni-Ann Singh, whose reign as the longest title-holder in history was extended following the delay of the annual beauty pageant for the second year due to Covid-19.

Miss World was launched in 1951 by Eric Morley, who became known as “Mr World″ after he founded the famed beauty pageant.

The competition was created in the UK and is the oldest-running international beauty pageant. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia, has co-chaired the event. Mr Gurung bought into the business in November.

To enter, contestants must be unmarried and childless, between the ages of 17 and 27 and be a resident of the country they represent.

The UAE has yet to enter a delegate into the competition, although the country has participated in the Mrs World pageant before, with Debanjali Kamstra becoming the first Mrs UAE World beauty queen in 2021, when she came in third.

The Mrs World pageant was founded in 1984 and has taken place around the world, from India and Russia to South Africa and South Korea.

Last year, the new title-holder was crowned in a glamorous ceremony on December 17 at a glitzy event in Las Vegas, which was live-streamed around the world. Pamala Serena represented the UAE but did not make it to the final rounds.

The winner was India's Sargam Koushal. The teacher and model from Mumbai beat 63 other contestants to lift the coveted title.