Miss Universe Bahrain: Egyptian actress Mai Omar announced as first judge

She will help to chose the new beauty queen to represent the country on August 26

Miss Universe Bahrain 2021 Manar Nadeem Deyani will soon hand over her crown to her successor at the next pageant. All photos: Yugen Group, unless specified

Manar Nadeem Deyani says her life has completely changed since she was named Miss Universe Bahrain.

The Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 pageant is set to be held in July.

Deyani made waves at the Miss Universe pageant in 2021 when she walked out during the swimsuit round in a fully-covered activewear outfit. AP

Deyani wore a look inspired by Bahrain's long tradition of pearl diving during the national costume round at Miss Universe 2021.

Deyani, during the preliminary stage of the 70th Miss Universe beauty pageant, in Israel's southern Red Sea coastal city of Eilat in 2021. AFP

Applications are now being accepted for Miss Universe Bahrain 2022. While details are still scarce, the event is open to all aspiring beauty queens who are between the ages of 18 to 28, are single and hold a Bahraini passport.

Deyani is also a fashion designer and hopes to launch her own label soon, with a focus on sustainability.

Deyani in Eilat, Israel, during the Miss Universe 2021 pageant.

Participating in the Miss Universe pageant gave her the privilege and the opportunity to 'redefine what a modern Bahraini woman is', says Deyani.

Deyani, just after landing in Israel for the Miss Universe pageant in 2021. Photo: Yugen Group

With her hair stylist Maggie Semaan.

Deyani soon after she landed in Israel in 2021.

If you are an aspiring Miss Universe, you have to find your purpose, develop your confidence and identify the key messages you want to advocate, advises Deyani.

Egyptian actress Mai Omar has been announced as the first judge for the Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 contest.

Omar announced the news in a joint Instagram post with the official Miss Universe Bahrain account, ahead of the new beauty queen being crowned on August 26.

“I am so thrilled to be a part of this historical project and I believe in this platform that empowers women, encourages young individuals to voice out their advocacies and at the same time have an amazing experience sharing their wonderful and inspirational stories with the world,” said Omar.

She was recently officially announced as the new global ambassador of charity Smile Train, which is supported by the wider Miss Universe organisation.

Manar Nadeem Deyani, the reigning Miss Universe Bahrain, said: “We are so excited to welcome Mai Omar to the Miss Universe Bahrain family by helping us screen this year’s candidates and their advocacies to further help and raise awareness to the causes close to their hearts. I am just proud to see Mai Omar stand side by side with the empowering women in this platform.”

The new Miss Universe Bahrain will be revealed to the public during the show's broadcast on September 11, two weeks after she is crowned.

Nadeem Deyani, who made history last year by being the first woman from her country to participate in the global pageant, will pass on her crown at a glittering gala, the location for which has not been revealed.

In June, Miss Universe Bahrain announced it was accepting applications for this year's competition, inviting aspiring beauty queens aged 18 to 28, who are single and who hold a Bahraini passport.

"Last year, we made history as after 70 years we sent the first candidate from the GCC to the Miss Universe pageant," Josh Yugen, chief executive of Yugen Group and the national director of Miss Universe Bahrain tells The National.

"Miss Universe Bahrain also made history as the first-ever woman to wear a burkini during the swimwear competition. She was also the shortest candidate, as we want to break the stereotypes of what a beauty queen should be.

"And this year, we want to continue making history by continuing the legacy of defying the stigma of the pageant industry. With Yugen Group team, The Council, our esteemed celebrity and VVIP judges, we want to crown a winner with an unparalleled purpose, with a strong character and a glowing beauty that exudes from within. She is an empowering soul who can summon the universe."

Segments at the coming Miss Universe Bahrain will include an activewear round, an evening gown round and a Q&A round for the finalists.

Scroll through the gallery for Miss Universe 2022 contestants who have been crowned so far

Miss Universe Turkey 2022 is Aleyana Sirin. Photo: Instagram / Aleyanasirinn

Miss Universe Italy 2022 is Virginia Stablum. Photo: / Instagram / Virginia.Stablum

Miss Universe Kyrgyzstan 2022 is Altynai Botoyarova. Photo: Instagram / botoyarova_altynai

Evlin Khalifa, 24, is the second Miss Universe Bahrain. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain

Miss Universe Spain, Alicia Faubel, comes from Alicante and has lived in Dubai and the Philippines. Photo: Instagram / alicia.aliccia

Divita Rai, 23, winner of India's Miss Diva Universe 2022. Photo: Miss Diva

Sophiya Bhujel was crowned Oriflame Miss Universe Nepal 2022. Photo: Miss Universe Nepal

Ndavi Nokeri, winner of Miss Universe South Africa 2022. Photo: Miss South Africa

Anna Sueangam-iam was named Miss Universe Thailand 2022. Photo: Miss Universe

Balsam Hussein when she was declared Miss Iraq 2022. Azhar Al-Rubaie for The National

Yasmina Zaytoun after being crowned Miss Lebanon 2022 at Forum De Beirut. EPA

Noky Simbani was crowned Miss Universe Great Britain 2022. Photo: Instagram / Miss Universe Great Britain

Miss Ukraine 2022 is Viktoria Apanasenko, first runner-up from last year's contest. There was no pageant held this year owing to the war in the country. Photo: Instagram / Viktoria Apanasenko

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau has been named Miss Universe Vietnam 2022. Photo: Facebook / Nguyen Thi Ngoc Chau

Filipino-Italian beauty queen Celeste Cortesi was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022 in Manila. EPA-EFE

Bhutan is marking its pageant debut this year and Tashi Choden is the country's first beauty queen. Photo: Tashi Choden

Laksmi Suardana took the Puteri Indonesia 2022 crown, becoming the first contestant from Bali to enter Miss Universe. Photo: Laksmi Shari De Neefe Suardana

Miss Universe Ghana 2022 Engracia Afua K Mofuman was one of the first women to be crowned in 2022, in order to compete in the 71st Miss Universe pageant. Photo: Engracia Mofuman

Hanna Kim, from Seoul, will represent South Korea in the next Miss Universe pageant. Photo: Hanna Ming

The first and last time the Seychelles competed in Miss Universe was 1995 and so, after that 27-year hiatus, Gabriella Gonthier, from Mahe, will be representing her home country. Photo: Gabriella Gonthier/ Miss University Africa

Amelia Tu, from Vancouver, winner of Miss Universe Canada 2022. Photo: Miss Universe Canada

Miss Universe Jamaica 2022, Toshami Calvin, 26, is the cousin of Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh. Photo: Instagram / officialmissuniversejamaica