The Miss Universe pageant will no longer have an upper age limit for participants for the first time in its history. Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel of the United States made the announcement at New York Fashion Week 2024. R’Bonney Gabriel has been the oldest Miss Universe ever to be crowned. The winner for 2022 is presently 29 years old. Miss Universe has previously set a contestant age limit of 28 years old.
However, in light of the new modifications announced after Tanner Fletcher’s “Beauty Pageant” event at NYFW 2024, the organization has chosen to eliminate its age restrictions.
To enter the competition, candidates must be at least 18 years old. This modification has also been implemented by the organization in its ongoing quest for inclusivity. The Miss Universe winner told reporters at New York Fashion Week that “age is not a barrier to a woman’s ability to compete or achieve greatness.”
“It’s a bold group of women in charge over here, and you know what, a lot of people tend to follow what we do — it’s nice to be a standard-bearer, and I’m proud that we get to do this,” R’Bonney said.
The Miss Universe Organization was founded in 1952. Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, commonly known as Anne Jakrajutatip, a transgender businesswoman, purchased the organization for $20 million in 2022. Various restrictions were lifted during her tenure as Miss Universe 2023. Contestants who were married, divorced, or pregnant were permitted to compete in the beauty pageant.
