Miss Universe returns after hiatus, sets pageant date on May 16

Paula M. Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, said in a press release sent to the media: “We have spent months planning and preparing safety precautions to develop this edition of Miss Universe—one that will be memorable, special and totally innovative.”

She added, "I look forward to seeing this work come to fruition and crowning a new Miss Universe in May.”

While the Facebook announcement of the 69th Miss Universe did not include any other details besides the event’s date and venue, People reports that the Miss Universe Organization is considering “a very limited audience” for the upcoming pageant.

The 69th Miss Universe will be modeled after Miss USA 2020—the pageant that selects the contestant who will represent the United States in Miss Universe that’s also owned by the Miss Universe Organization—which was held November last year.

Rabiya Mateo will be representing the Philippines in the upcoming 69th Miss Universe pageant. She is the first Philippine entrant in the beauty pageant under the Miss Universe Philippines franchise.

The beauty pageants, both local and international, are starting to return after last year’s hiatus and postponements, although a few still held contests last year. The Miss Earth, a Philippine-based international pageant, held its 2020 edition completely online in May 2020—reportedly the first among the major pageants to hold a completely virtual and remote pageant.

The 57th Binibining Pilipinas will be held on April 17, 2021, although it already sent Samantha Bernardo to Thailand to represent the Philippines in the Miss Grand International pageant.

Banner image from AFP, Getty Images North America/Marcus Ingram