Evlin Khalifa, from Riffa, has been crowned the second Miss Universe Bahrain.
A year after Manar Deyani became the first beauty queen to represent Bahrain at the Miss Universe pageant, Khalifa, 24, takes the spotlight.
The crowning took place in a ceremony streamed on Miss Universe Bahrain's official YouTube page, showing the contestants sporting looks by Amato Couture and taking part in a question-and-answer segment.
Khalifa impressed the judges, including Indian actress Urvashi Rautela and Egyptian actress Mai Omar, with her answer to the question: "When do you think a woman becomes empowered?"
“I think a woman becomes empowered when she knows herself, when she knows her values and when she knows what she is capable of," she said.
"An empowered woman is a role model of the people and whose actions lead to success. And I’m here to be that woman to lead all the people to success and believe in themselves.”
Applications for the Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 competition opened in June, inviting aspiring beauty queens aged between 18 and 28, who are single and who hold a Bahraini passport, to enter the competition.
There were more than 300 applicants from across the kingdom, and these were whittled down to only seven, before the winner and three runners-up were crowned.
Filipina-Bahraini Shereen Ahmed and Maryam Naji came in as second runners-up, while the contest's youngest participant, Lujane Yacoub, was first runner-up.
Model Natalia Barulich announced the winners.
Scroll through the below gallery to see Miss Universe Bahrain finalists in Dubai
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The finalists of Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 joined in a number of workshops and activities in Dubai. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Miss Bahrain Universe 2022 finalists at a beauty workshop at the Madi International Showroom in Dubai. -
Ghadeer Alshayeb, centre, is one of the seven finalists. -
Finalist Maria Malalla being pampered at the showroom. -
Finalist Evlin Khalifa at the workshop. -
Winner of Miss Universe Bahrain 2021, Manar Nadeem Deyani, with 2022 finalist Maryam Naji. -
One of the finalists receiving a facial treatment. -
Deyani with finalist Shereen Ahmed. -
Finalist Ahmed takes a selfie. -
Deyani will name her successor on September 11. -
Deyani made history last year as the first beauty queen to represent Bahrain at Miss Universe. -
Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 finalists being pampered during their beauty workshop. -
The seven finalists were chosen from more than 300 applicants. -
Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 finalists have been undergoing a number of training sessions and workshops. -
Finalist Evlin Khalifa, 24, is from Riffa. -
Finalist Ghadeer Alshayeb, 23, is from Arad. -
Ghadeer Alshayeb, Lujane Yacoub and Maya Malalla at the workshop. -
Lujane Yacoub and Maya Malalla. -
Deyani, far left, has been mentoring the 2022 finalists.
Who is Evlin Khalifa?
Khalifa, who was born to a Bahraini father and Russian mother, is a trained pianist, and took courses in dancing and taekwondo.
She is passionate about education and believes it is never too late to learn something new in life.
A graduate in finance and banking, she is pursuing online classes to master her Arabic and English skills, as well as psychology. She has also done some professional modelling work, having starred in a make-up advertisement for Dior.
She is also outspoken about anorexia, having being diagnosed with it, and is keen to spread awareness and start conversations about the eating disorder, leading a healthy lifestyle and well-being.
Changes for Miss Universe 2022
Khalifa will go on to compete in the international Miss Universe pageant next year.
There will be no pageant this year, it was announced last week. While no reason has been given for the postponement, it is probable that two Miss Universe pageants will be held next year, with the 2022 winner announced in the first quarter and the 2023 queen being crowned later in the year.
The news effectively extends the reign of Harnaaz Sandhu from India, who was crowned Miss Universe 2021 in December.
But the longest-reigning Miss Universe is Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa, who won the title in 2019 and reigned for 525 days after the 2020 pageant was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
More than 50 countries, from the UK to Ukraine and Guatemala to Ghana, have named their representatives for the 71st Miss Universe, the location for which is yet to revealed.
Scroll through the gallery below for pictures of Miss Universe 2022 contestants who have already been crowned
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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
Last month, the Miss Universe Organisation introduced a major rule change for eligibility. Starting with the 72nd pageant, the annual competition will accept married women and mothers.
In an internal memo seen by The National, the organisation said: "We all believe that women should have agency over their lives and that a human's personal decisions should not be a barrier to their success."
Previously, only single women aged between 18 and 28, who have never been married or had children, were allowed to apply.
The contest has been changing with the times. Last year, Miss Universe Bahrain made headlines by choosing to walk the swimsuit round in fully covered sportswear.
The former beauty queen, who is a fashion designer living in Dubai, has been mentoring the finalists along with a team of experts.
"Miss Universe has never been about physical beauty," she previously told The National. "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 for.
"It is also important to take care of your mental health because it can sometimes be hard with everyone watching, but you need to embrace your power within and find your voice."
Meet the first Miss Universe Bahrain: Manar Deyani — in pictures
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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.
