• Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua is crowned the 72nd Miss Universe in San Salvador. AFP
    Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua is crowned the 72nd Miss Universe in San Salvador. AFP
  • Miss Universe Thailand Anntonia Porsild was the first runner up at the 2023 event. EPA
    Miss Universe Thailand Anntonia Porsild was the first runner up at the 2023 event. EPA
  • Miss Universe Australia Moraya Wilson came in third at the pageant. EPA
    Miss Universe Australia Moraya Wilson came in third at the pageant. EPA
  • Miss Universe Colombia Camila Avella came fourth and made history as the first married contestant to make the top five. AP
    Miss Universe Colombia Camila Avella came fourth and made history as the first married contestant to make the top five. AP
  • Miss Universe Puerto Rico Karla Guilfu came fifth. EPA
    Miss Universe Puerto Rico Karla Guilfu came fifth. EPA
  • Miss Universe El Salvador Isabella Garcia-Manzo. EPA
    Miss Universe El Salvador Isabella Garcia-Manzo. EPA
  • Miss Universe Peru Camila Escribens. AP
    Miss Universe Peru Camila Escribens. AP
  • Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee. AP
    Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee. AP
  • Miss Universe Spain Athenea Perez. EPA
    Miss Universe Spain Athenea Perez. EPA
  • Miss Universe Venezuela Diana Silva. Reuters
    Miss Universe Venezuela Diana Silva. Reuters

Dubai company acquires rights to host Miss Universe New Zealand


  • English
  • Arabic

After four years of absence, New Zealand will once again be represented on the Miss Universe stage, thanks to one Dubai company.

Yugen Group has acquired the rights to the Miss Universe New Zealand franchise and will be responsible for selecting the country's representative at Miss Universe 2024, set to be held in Mexico later this year.

A date for the beauty pageant has not yet been announced.

The company, headquartered in Dubai, already owns the franchise for Miss Universe Bahrain, Miss Universe Egypt and Miss Universe Pakistan.

Founder Josh Yugen, who will also be national director for Miss Universe New Zealand, said he bid for the rights because he's “passionate about empowering women”.

Josh Yugen with Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 winner Evlin Khalifa. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
Josh Yugen with Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 winner Evlin Khalifa. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain

“New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries because of its landscapes, pristine beaches and vibrant cities as well as its diverse culture and innovative spirit. I firmly believe that the Miss Universe platform offers a distinctive opportunity to inspire and uplift women from all backgrounds,” he tells The National.

“In my role as the national director, I aim to cultivate a supportive and inclusive environment for contestants to exhibit their talents, intelligence and inner beauty. I am committed to providing a platform where women can showcase their strengths and aspirations, ultimately fostering a sense of empowerment.”

Now in its 73rd year, the Miss Universe pageant is one of the oldest and most popular beauty contests in the world. Since its acquisition by Thai media and content company JKN Global Group in 2022, it has made a number of historic rule changes, including allowing married women and mothers to compete and abolishing age restrictions.

At last year's competition, Miss Universe Nepal Jane Dipika Garrett made waves as one of the first plus-size contestants in the pageant's history.

Ownership of national franchises is open to anyone.

“Miss Universe is a truly international platform that disregards one's nationality when it comes to leadership,” says Yugen, whose company includes public relations and publishing arms. “A Filipino entrepreneur with ventures in Dubai has the power to inspire individuals regardless of borders.”

New Zealand won top honours at the Miss Universe pageant once, when Lorraine Downes was crowned the winner in 1983.

Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua, who won the Miss Universe 2023 crown in El Salvador in November, will crown her successor at the next event.

CREW
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The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands

The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands

50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias

Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura

Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal

SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos

Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt

Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho

Singles match John Cena v Triple H

Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

Graduated from the American University of Sharjah

She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters

Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks

Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding

 

Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

GOODBYE%20JULIA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohamed%20Kordofani%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiran%20Riak%2C%20Eiman%20Yousif%2C%20Nazar%20Goma%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE

TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SERIES%208
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2019 ASIAN CUP FINAL

Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Most F1 world titles

7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)

7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)

5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)

4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)

4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)

The 10 Questions
  • Is there a God?
  • How did it all begin?
  • What is inside a black hole?
  • Can we predict the future?
  • Is time travel possible?
  • Will we survive on Earth?
  • Is there other intelligent life in the universe?
  • Should we colonise space?
  • Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?
  • How do we shape the future?
MATCH INFO

CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures

Tuesday:

Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)

Second legs:

October 23

ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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UAE%20Warriors%2033%20Results
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Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo

Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

FIXTURES

Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)

Updated: February 21, 2024, 7:55 AM