First 15 finalists for Miss Universe UAE revealed

The winner of the title will be announced on November 7

One of the 15 finalists in the Miss Universe UAE competition. Photo: Miss Universe UAE

The first round of finalists for the inaugural Miss Universe UAE have been revealed.

Fifteen of the 30 finalists have been unveiled on Twitter by the Miss Universe UAE organisation. Pictures have been posted of the hopefuls, along with their first names and details on where they live. All are dressed in Dubai label Amato Couture and have been photographed by Lucas Alves. Finalists include Anna, 28, Dubai; Asher, 28, Dubai; Reem, 25, Abu Dhabi; Victoria, 26, Dubai; Bhar, 26, Dubai; Emilia, 24, Dubai; and Franki, 27, Dubai.

The top 30 will be formally presented during a charity dinner on Thursday, November 4, before being whittled down to 15 contestants during the event’s preliminary round on Friday, November 5. The winner will be announced at an event at on Sunday, November 7. A location for the coronation night is yet to be announced.

This is the first time the Miss Universe pageant will welcome a UAE representative when it returns for its 70th year in December. Hours after the pageant was announced on October 7, aspiring beauty queens crashed the Miss Universe UAE website with more than 15,000 applications.

Casting was split into two rounds, the first being a runway show where judges looked for the “X factor”. Contestants who impressed were then asked back for a second round and asked to answer a single question: “Why do you deserve to be a part of the history of the UAE?”

Entry for the pageant was open to all female residents between the ages of 18 and 28 who have lived in the country for more than three years.

“We’re looking for someone who is the epitome of kindness," said Josh Yugen, president and national director of Miss Universe UAE. “She needs to be beautiful inside and out because Miss Universe UAE is not just a measure of beauty or intelligence, it’s more about her heart and her purpose.”

“We’re changing the norms of pageantry in the UAE. It’s not just about physical beauty; it’s about inclusion and individuality, too.”

Here's a look behind the scenes of the Miss Universe UAE auditions:

Miss Universe UAE contenders at Bagatelle restaurant in Fairmont Dubai. All photos: Antonie Robertson / The National

The first casting on October 15 whittled down thousands of aspirants to 300

The panel of 10 judges, including Josh Yugen, president and national director of Miss Universe UAE, centre

The audition involved a strut down the runway and a Q&A round

Emirati contenders Aamna Alidi and Aya Albalooshi. The Miss Universe UAE competition is open to citizens and residents between 18 and 28 years of age

Each contestant was asked but the one question: 'Why do you deserve to be a part of the history of the UAE?'

The panellists interact with one of the contestants

Yugen said the judges are 'looking for someone who is the epitome of kindness'

By allowing all residents to participate, Miss Universe UAE hopes to promote 'inclusion and individuality'

The contenders include aspiring doctors and pilots, as well as models, students, cabin crew and martial artists

Of the 300 candidates, a shortlist of 30 will be revealed on October 20, while the final show will held at La Perle on November 7