A 27-year-old model will represent Saudi Arabia with the country’s flag in the Miss Universe pageant. She will become the first model to represent the country.
Rumy Alqahatni, an influencer with one million followers and a beauty pageant veteran, announced on Monday that she will be representing the country in the contest.
“I am honored to participate in the Miss Universe 2024 competition. This is the debut of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the competition,” she wrote in Arabic on Instagram.
Upon revealing the news, the model released images showcasing her in a glamorous beauty queen ensemble. She was adorned in a strapless gown adorned with sequins, a tiara perched elegantly atop her head, and a sash draped over her shoulder. In her hands, she proudly held the flag of Saudi Arabia.
Hailing from Riyadh, Alqahtani is well-acquainted with the limelight. She has participated in several international beauty pageants, including her most recent appearance at Miss and Mrs Global Asian in Malaysia just a few weeks back.
Saudi Arabia is gradually modernizing and opening up to the outer world in compliance with the Vision 2030. Several restrictions have been lifted to pave the way for modernization.
Read more: Social media reacts to first alcohol store in Saudi Arabia
Earlier this year, they had announced opening the first alcohol store for diplomats. The store will serve exclusively non-Muslim diplomats. To access liquor, customers will have to register via a mobile app, get a clearance code from the foreign ministry, and respect monthly quotas with their purchases.
Drinking alcohol is forbidden in Islam. In Saudi Arabia, drinking alcohol is punishable by hundreds of lashes, deportation, fines, or imprisonment.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who assumed power in June 2017, has been making efforts to open the conservative Kingdom for tourism and business.
The new store is located in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, a neighborhood where embassies and diplomats reside and will be “strictly restricted” to non-Muslims, the document said as per the news agency. However, it was unclear if other non-Muslim expatriates will have access to the store.