Miss Universe Pageant Lifts Age Limits, Welcomes Married Women and Mothers

The 2025 Miss Universe pageant is gearing up to take place in Bangkok, Thailand on November 21st. This year's event, themed "The Power of Love," will see over 100 contestants from around the world take the stage to represent their countries.

In a significant change, the Miss Universe organization has announced that the competition is now open to women above the age of 18, regardless of their marital or parental status. This marks a departure from the previous age restrictions, which limited participation to contestants between 18 and 28 years old.

The first mother and married contestant competed in the 2023 Miss Universe pageant, paving the way for a more inclusive competition. The organization has emphasized that age should not define the contestants, with the current Miss Universe, R'Bonney Gabriel, stating, "If not now, then when? Because I believe age should not define us."

The Miss Universe pageant has evolved over the past 73 years, updating its rules and regulations to create a more diverse and representative event. While some major pageants have done away with the swimsuit portion, it remains a key part of the Miss Universe competition, with the swimsuit competition taking place before the final coronation.