![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y3QKQ2LHXFBGFOXSAYJ6RHIV3Q.jpeg?smart=true&auth=c1c63c9be4212804613ebd6188140e401a9b7adea639644d9a6f0ad665d2439a&width=400&height=225)
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
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGQC7OWUIFDJXJBUHXIL6DGEHQ.jpeg?smart=true&auth=9f5c55c7fd87a795b383729ec448afacfe85d90c8c70ab17a9d0dc47d6981dab&width=400&height=225)
Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 Evlin Khalifa is a pianist and professional model who is half Bahraini and half Russian. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ISQPPIGQXFBRNMULDVHOLRBCOM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=d78bf3af77e8b5523181b025fea98d55818f2c952917a5d5e5718691cc94c3f0&width=400&height=225)
Evlin Khalifa was crowned Miss Universe Bahrain last year. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/54ZZFBCG5ZCT3GGJBKJ3HHRCR4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=27aa00329dfc8ac7a07740023073e035a581ad5a6b49ae01fa956d9863639378&width=400&height=225)
The moment Khalifa was crowned. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
Khalifa, from Riffa, is the second beauty queen from Bahrain. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PMZKFKRORBEYJIGS7OJFRTXRZY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=90ab23bfe0658004f3494e50f582e0fafeb803de06eb1995aeae1bf34f47211d&width=400&height=225)
Seven finalists of the Bahrain national pageant. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ULZ5JANCKBB6RWQRO2RRFQ5Y2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=60d8ee774c1909ad9a87c571fc54e26f8dd15e3b8680c642b69d8150a6119498&width=400&height=225)
Khalifa competes in the evening gown wearing a dress by Filipino designer Furne One whose Amato label is based in Dubai. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TIDQCCPAQOKJWBLEH3SHAA3U2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=b3285cd8b1221352f7fa40aadb0113bddb3ee1095f746b22d532e839ca375883&width=400&height=225)
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
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2QCRULSJMVGSBERLT5RCVBRFMQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6aa95ee7920e81155183c04c3a3246fc56b38b973502dd94ac3b498fda699d0d&width=400&height=225)
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
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TARGCQWHG5DCTAUUQZ2PCKTT24.jpeg?smart=true&auth=d9941f8a2764791a0998d81ac8b3c925c6ff76d7bb8e7482be1ac5126562caf3&width=400&height=225)
Evlin Khalifa in elegant Middle Eastern-style fashion. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DXA56CDD5JC7XOF5SYYW7BHXUY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=753b3c5ee7a018dad3fb9c76b8f477268229ad67a78e83366603f7706866cc32&width=400&height=225)
Evlin Khalifa says she is committed to dressing more modestly than other contestants. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y3QKQ2LHXFBGFOXSAYJ6RHIV3Q.jpeg?smart=true&auth=c1c63c9be4212804613ebd6188140e401a9b7adea639644d9a6f0ad665d2439a&width=400&height=225)
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
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGQC7OWUIFDJXJBUHXIL6DGEHQ.jpeg?smart=true&auth=9f5c55c7fd87a795b383729ec448afacfe85d90c8c70ab17a9d0dc47d6981dab&width=400&height=225)
Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 Evlin Khalifa is a pianist and professional model who is half Bahraini and half Russian. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ISQPPIGQXFBRNMULDVHOLRBCOM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=d78bf3af77e8b5523181b025fea98d55818f2c952917a5d5e5718691cc94c3f0&width=400&height=225)
Evlin Khalifa was crowned Miss Universe Bahrain last year. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/54ZZFBCG5ZCT3GGJBKJ3HHRCR4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=27aa00329dfc8ac7a07740023073e035a581ad5a6b49ae01fa956d9863639378&width=400&height=225)
The moment Khalifa was crowned. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
Khalifa, from Riffa, is the second beauty queen from Bahrain. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PMZKFKRORBEYJIGS7OJFRTXRZY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=90ab23bfe0658004f3494e50f582e0fafeb803de06eb1995aeae1bf34f47211d&width=400&height=225)
Seven finalists of the Bahrain national pageant. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ULZ5JANCKBB6RWQRO2RRFQ5Y2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=60d8ee774c1909ad9a87c571fc54e26f8dd15e3b8680c642b69d8150a6119498&width=400&height=225)
Khalifa competes in the evening gown wearing a dress by Filipino designer Furne One whose Amato label is based in Dubai. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TIDQCCPAQOKJWBLEH3SHAA3U2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=b3285cd8b1221352f7fa40aadb0113bddb3ee1095f746b22d532e839ca375883&width=400&height=225)
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
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2QCRULSJMVGSBERLT5RCVBRFMQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6aa95ee7920e81155183c04c3a3246fc56b38b973502dd94ac3b498fda699d0d&width=400&height=225)
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
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TARGCQWHG5DCTAUUQZ2PCKTT24.jpeg?smart=true&auth=d9941f8a2764791a0998d81ac8b3c925c6ff76d7bb8e7482be1ac5126562caf3&width=400&height=225)
Evlin Khalifa in elegant Middle Eastern-style fashion. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DXA56CDD5JC7XOF5SYYW7BHXUY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=753b3c5ee7a018dad3fb9c76b8f477268229ad67a78e83366603f7706866cc32&width=400&height=225)
Evlin Khalifa says she is committed to dressing more modestly than other contestants. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y3QKQ2LHXFBGFOXSAYJ6RHIV3Q.jpeg?smart=true&auth=c1c63c9be4212804613ebd6188140e401a9b7adea639644d9a6f0ad665d2439a&width=400&height=225)
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
Meet Miss Universe Bahrain Evlin Khalifa, who says she's 'doing this for my country'
Bahraini-Russian beauty queen wants to shine a light on the small Gulf island nation
Sarah Maisey
13 September, 2022
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic