One of the best things about Miss Universe is the presence of diverse women on stage, breaking the boundaries of beauty and embracing their uniqueness as queens
Miss Universe is an organization that celebrates diversity. Women of different cultures, backgrounds, and religions are given platforms to create an impact on the world, becoming inspirational leaders and role models to communities. Over the years, the organization has put inclusivity at the forefront; Today, openly transwomen, mothers, married women, and pregnant women 18 years and above are now eligible to compete. With these changes to represent all kinds of women, we celebrate the unconventional queens of this year’s Miss Universe.
RELATED: Miss Universe 2024 Queens Who Made Powerful Statements With Their National Costumes
Armenia
Emma Avanesyan is many things: a model, a founder of a modeling agency, a singer, a modeling teacher, and most importantly, a mother. Miss Universe Armenia uses her platform to actively raise awareness of poverty and educational access, empower the youth for a bright future ahead of them, and advocate for mental health, education, and social justice.
Bangladesh
International makeup artist Aniqa Alam has been an advocate of women’s empowerment for a long time now. With her degree in Political Science, she has been working closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Zero Hunger. Aside from her career in beauty and her humanitarian efforts, the beauty queen is also a wife and mother.
Brazil
Representing her country is Luana Cavalcante, ambassador of a non-profit organization Friends Forever International that empowers the youth to help communities. The beauty queen has experience breaking barriers herself, being the first married mother to become Miss Universe Brazil.
Cambodia
Actress, model, and mother, Davin Prasath is also the first married woman to be crowned Miss Universe Cambodia. With her experience in charity events and community service, the beauty queen is also an advocate of female empowerment and leadership.
Canada
Ashley Callingbull, Canada’s first Indigenous candidate, is from the Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta. Deeply rooted in her culture and identity, she has been using her platform to advocate for Indigenous rights and raise awareness, constantly engaging with Indigenous communities and schools. With her passion, Callingbull has empowered many Indigenous youth, fostering pride and inspiring them to break boundaries while embracing their identities.
Costa Rica
Another woman making history in her country is international model Elena Hidalgo. At 32 years old, she is the first mother to be crowned as Miss Universe Costa Rica, all while balancing her studies as a nutrition student, advocating for human rights and gender equality, and raising her daughter.
Egypt
34-year-old Logina Salah is representing Egypt in this year’s Miss Universe. Not only is she a mother, but she also has a rare skin condition called vitiligo, causing patches of skin to lose pigment. Being a professional makeup artist, she hid her skin condition for a while until she took to social media to show off her bare skin, patches and all. With this, she actively advocates for diversity in the beauty industry and aims to inspire women to embrace their unique beauty.
Honduras
At 31 years old, Stephanie Cam also made history as the oldest woman and the first mother to be crowned Miss Universe Honduras. Aside from raising her beautiful daughter, she is also a model, a trained dancer in various genres, a medical assistant in healthcare, and an advocate for women. The beauty queen is passionate about women’s empowerment, especially mothers, encouraging them to break traditional boundaries in the pursuit of chasing their dreams.
Malta
Proudly the oldest woman to be crowned Miss Universe Malta and the oldest candidate at Miss Universe 2024 at 40 years old, Beatrice Njoya is a model and a mother. Aside from the challenge of raising her three children as a single mother, the beauty queen stayed resilient from experiencing racism, domestic abuse, and self-harm, showing how strong and empowered she is on the Miss Universe stage.
Netherlands
Miss Universe Netherlands Faith Landman, aside from being engaged, is a mother. The beauty queen is also a maternity photographer, used to witnessing first-hand the strength of a woman and the transformation of femininity—the transition to motherhood. As a mother, Landman advocates for equal opportunities for children, even involving his son Ace in charity work.
Puerto Rico
Among the three oldest women competing on the Miss Universe stage is Jennifer Colón Alvarado, a 36-year-old woman, and a single mother. Aside from being a medical esthetician and an iridologist, the Puerto Rican is also the founder of a non-profit organization that provides free aesthetic services to survivors of trauma. Healing Hands Puerto Rico aims to bring back the survivors’ confidence and emotional well-being with beauty treatments.
Romania
Activist and beauty queen, Miss Universe Romania Loredana Salanta is also a mother. Aside from her extensive experience in the beauty pageant space, the 33-year-old beauty queen is a film and fashion journalist and an experienced model, winning the title of Top Model of the World in 2011. Like most mothers competing on the Miss Universe stage, she is also the first married woman, mother, and oldest candidate to win the title of Miss Universe Romania
United Arab Emirates
For the first time, the United Arab Emirates is competing for the Miss Universe crown. Emilia Dobreva is the first-ever Miss Universe United Arab Emirates, a breakthrough for women and the UAE alike. The beauty queen is an experienced model as she began at the age of 12 and is now constantly being invited to various fashion events around the world. With a successful career in modeling, she is also a proud wife and a mother at 27 years old.
Venezuela
At 28 years old, Ileana Marquez Pedroza is the first mother to win a beauty pageant in Venezuela. As a single mother, she has a 12-year-old daughter named Guadalupe, an almost exact copy of the beauty queen. Raising her daughter when she was just 16 years old, Pedroza had struggles of her own, leading her to join the Niña Madre Foundation to offer her support to children and teenagers experiencing the same struggles, while also giving guidance in the prevention of adolescent pregnancies.
Featured Image and Photos: MISS UNIVERSE VENEZUELA, LOGINA SALAH, MISS UNIVERSE MALTA, & MISS UNIVERSE (via Instagram)
