The Miss Universe Bahrain organisation has announced the formation of its first council. Made up of experts from various fields, the group will be responsible for selecting the next Miss Universe Bahrain and grooming them for the global Miss Universe competition.
Headed by national director Josh Yugen, the chief executive of Yugen Group, the council also includes Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 Evlin Khalifa, who has been named head of culture. Celebrity favourite fashion designer Furne One, whose Amato label is headquartered in Dubai, will be the creative director, while Filipina actress and beauty queen Kylie Verzosa, who won Miss International in 2016, will be the head of empowerment.
Other council members include Filipino TV personality Raymond Gutierrez as fashion director, entrepreneur Lorenzo Vega as head of innovation, TV producer Joey Abacan as senior executive consultant and filmmaker Brillante Mendoza as artistic director.
As head of culture, Khalifa's responsibilities will include ensuring the organisation and contestants respect and uphold the traditions and culture of Bahrain.
"We are happy to keep the traditions and culture of the region while constantly innovating the pageantry scene in the Middle East," Yugen told The National.
Miss Universe is one of the longest-running and most-watched beauty competitions in the world; it is broadcast in 165 countries and seen by more than half a billion people annually.
Scroll through the gallery below for more pictures from the Miss Universe 2022 competition
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Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel celebrates after winning the 71st Miss Universe competition at the New Orleans Ernest N Morial Convention Centre in Louisiana. AFP -
Gabriel on stage after being crowned Miss Universe at the 71st Miss Universe pageant, in New Orleans. AP -
Gabriel, back to camera, is hugged by other contestants after being crowned Miss Universe. AP -
Gabriel celebrates after her win. Reuters -
From left, Miss Venezuela Amanda Dudamel, Miss USA Gabriel and Miss Dominican Republic Andreina Martinez hold hands before the final verdict during the 71st Miss Universe competition in Louisiana. AFP -
Gabriel reacts after being picked among the final three contestants in the final round. AP -
The final five contestants, from left, Miss Dominican Republic Martinez, Miss Curacao Gabriela Dos Santos, Miss Puerto Rico Ashley Carino, Miss USA Gabriel and Miss Venezuela Dudamel. AP -
Thai businesswoman and owner of Miss Universe pageant Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip speaks during the 71st Miss Universe competition. AFP -
Contestants take part in the final round. AFP -
Gabriel on stage. Reuters -
Miss Trinidad and Tobago Tya Jane Ramey. Reuters -
Miss Spain Alicia Faubel. Reuters -
Miss Australia Monique Riley. AFP -
Miss Canada Amelia Tu. Reuters -
Miss Haiti Mideline Phelizor. Reuters -
Jakrajutatip, left, as owner of the Miss Universe Organisation, presents the ImpactWayv Challenge Award to Miss Thailand Anna Sueangam-iam. AP -
Miss Colombia Maria Fernanda Aristizabal reacts after being selected as the last of the 16 finalists. AP -
Jeannie Mai Jenkins and Olivia Culpo host the competition. Getty Images -
Miss Seychelles Gabriella Gonthier walks through the crowd with fellow contestants for the start of the final round. AP
Miss Universe Bahrain has successfully sent two delegates to the global competition, starting with Miss Universe Bahrain 2021, Manar Nadeem Deyani, who became the first beauty queen to represent Bahrain.
Deyani made waves at the event, held in Israel, when she walked in the swimsuit competition in a fully covered flowing activewear outfit.
Khalifa, who beat more than 300 applicants to win the Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 title, also made a striking appearance at the Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans in February. Although she did not make it to the semi-finals, she was praised for her powerful statement about representation during the swimsuit round when she made an appearance in a pink burkini.
Khalifa, 24, customised her cape with the message: "Arab Women should be represented. Muslim women can also become Miss Universe".
She also had the word "equality" written in Arabic on it.
Scroll through the gallery below for more pictures from Evlin Khalifa's Miss Universe journey
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Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 Evlin Khalifa is a pianist and professional model who is half Bahraini and half Russian. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
Evlin Khalifa was crowned Miss Universe Bahrain last year. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
The moment Khalifa was crowned. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
Khalifa, from Riffa, is the second beauty queen from Bahrain. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
Seven finalists of the Bahrain national pageant. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
Khalifa competes in the evening gown wearing a dress by Filipino designer Furne One whose Amato label is based in Dubai. AP -
Miss Bahrain Evlin Khalifa walks on stage in a pink burkini during the preliminary competition at the 71st Miss Universe in New Orleans. AFP -
Evlin Khalifa arrived in New Orleans for the Miss Universe pageant wearing a black and white modern abaya by Harvey Cencit. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
The Bahrain beauty queen departed from Dubai, wearing a long, blue-feathered couture jacket by Furne One over blue jeans. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
The current Miss Universe Bahrain ahead of her trip to the Miss Universe pageant. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Evlin Khalifa is a pianist and model. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Evlin Khalifa in elegant Middle Eastern-style fashion. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
Evlin Khalifa says she is committed to dressing more modestly than other contestants. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
From right: Miss Universe Bahrain Evlin Khalifa, Miss Universe Philippines Celeste Cortesi, photographer BJ Pascual, Miss Universe Bahrain national director Josh Yugen, Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa and Ian Borromeo, the co-founder of Yugen Group. Photo: Yugen Group
“I am so thankful to all of the new members of the Miss Universe Bahrain council, my friends and colleagues in the industry for lending us their time and expertise in making this franchise a phenomenal success,” said Yugen.
Yugen, whose company also owns the Miss Universe Pakistan franchise, had earlier revealed the next Miss Universe Bahrain would be a reality-show-style competition split into several episodes and broadcast online.
Production is set to begin in July, with the first episode to be broadcast in August.
Organisers said they were looking for "the most passionate girl from Bahrain who could defy the odds and has the fire to summon the universe".
Applicants need to be between 18 and 28 years of age, and have an advocacy and "inspirational story of empowerment and resilience". And, for the first time in 71 years, their marital status will not matter — applicants can be single, married, divorced or mothers.
The Miss Universe Organisation made the historic decision to no longer limit the contest to single women last year, saying it was a move to evolve with the times.
Applications are still being accepted for Miss Universe Bahrain 2023.
