The reigning Miss Universe 2023, Fil-American R'Bonney Gabriel, made an important announcement during New York Fashion Week: The Miss Universe Organization is lifting age requirements.
In a way, this is an issue that's personal to Gabriel who competed when she was already 28. "A woman's ability to compete at Miss Universe, or anything in life, shouldn't be defined by her age. Age should just be a number," she said in the pageant.
This move aims to be more inclusive and open the pageant to a wider variety of women.
In 2023, the organization lifted restrictions on those who are are married, divorced and pregnant. The owner of the Miss Universe Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip is a transgender businesswoman. She is credited with allowing and introducing more inclusive measures in the pageant.
The next Miss Universe competition will be held November of this year in El Salvador.