Sashaying across the Las Vegas stage in a plunging one-piece with her brunette locks flowing, Jaclyn Stapp dazzled with all of the poise and presence of an international beauty queen at Saturday's Mrs World final.
Mrs Jordan, 41, narrowly missed out on the Mrs World crown, finishing as first runner-up with the crown going to Mrs American Shaylyn Ford, with Mrs UAE World Debanjali Kamstra coming in third.
But who is the Jordanian beauty queen and philanthropist?
Who is Jaclyn Stapp?
A model, actress and author, Stapp is the daughter of Jordanian parents who left the Middle East for New York and later Florida.
The mother of three is the founder of non-profit organisation Children Are Magical (Charm), which aims to raise awareness of children’s issues and provide underprivileged youth with the tools to help with their education.
Stapp, who has been competing in pageants since she was 13, is married to Grammy Award-winning rock star Scott Stapp.
At Saturday's pageant, she told judges about her humble upbringing by a Jordanian mother who encouraged her to follow her dreams.
“I think a higher purpose varies for everyone individually,” she told pageant judges. “For me personally, my mother raised five children as a widow and an immigrant that came to this country [America].
“I lost my father at a very young age and my mother gave us a thirst for knowledge and education.
I learnt so much from my mother as a widow and that’s something I want to carry forward. I want to make a difference
Jaclyn Stapp,
Mrs Jordan World
“As Mrs World, I want to help young girls around the world have opportunities and education – that’s my passion and purpose.
“I learnt so much from my mother as a widow and that’s something I want to carry forward. I want to make a difference and I want to hit the ground running.”
A marketing and communications graduate from Stetson University in Florida, Stapp has graced the covers of magazines in the US and her acting credits include episodes of Full House, Second Noah and Sex and the City.
Over the years, Stapp has collected crowns including Miss New York USA, Mrs Florida and Mrs Jordan, in a proud celebration of her Middle Eastern heritage.
Commenting on social media before the final of Mrs World, Stapp wrote: “I am both proud and humbled to represent the married women of Jordan at the coming Mrs World pageant.
“My parents were born and raised in Jordan and I have seen for myself the many changes that have made it possible for a woman to be in the position I am.
“To carry this uplifting and personal history on to the Mrs World stage, along with so many beautiful and intelligent ladies from around the world, will be a life-changing experience.
“This journey will also give recognition to the women I represent who have been a positive force for change. I will be realising their dream.”
Winner of the Congeniality Award
At the Mrs World pageant final, Stapp blew the judges away with her confidence and charm, scooping the Congeniality Award in the swimwear round, which is presented to contestants for their pleasant personalities.
In the eveningwear round, Stapp sparkled in a silver floor-skimming halter-neck gown, which was split to the thigh and adorned in sequins and tassels.
In the national costume round, Stapp again paid tribute to her roots in a shocking-pink belly dancer-inspired ensemble designed by Matt Logan and Iolanna Design.
The bejewelled bustier and flowing skirt were draped in pearls and encrusted with gems that glimmered as Stapp swayed her hips in true belly dancer fashion.
Stapp and Ford clasped hands as they waited for the winner to be announced, with Stapp gracefully congratulating her rival on learning of her defeat.
Should Ford ever need to step down from her position, the title of Mrs World will automatically go to Stapp.
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
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Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
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Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
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Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
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Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
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The story in numbers
18
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450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
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73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
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The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
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The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
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Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
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Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
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He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
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He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
India squad
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, K.L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
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3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
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9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
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10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
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The biog
Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992
Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old
Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
