Online voting is now open for Miss Universe 2022, giving fans the chance to send their favourite contestant into the semi-finals. This also means the official photos of many of the contestants have been revealed, including the only representative from the Gulf, Miss Universe Bahrain Evlin Khalifa.
Official photos of 83 contestants have now been uploaded to the Miss Universe website, with more to be added soon. The contestant with the highest number of fan votes will automatically qualify for a spot in the semi-finals of the live pageant, to be held in New Orleans on January 14.
For Khalifa's shoot, themed The Power of Modesty, the beauty queen wears an Egyptian-inspired gold gown by Filipino designer Furne One and his label Amato, which is based in Dubai. The dress, part of One's collection to mark the UAE’s Golden Jubilee and showcased in December, is complete with a ruffled cape and head cover with heavy gold beadwork.
Scroll through the gallery below to see more photos of Miss Universe Bahrain Evlin Khalifa
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Miss Universe Bahrain 2022 Evlin Khalifa is a pianist and professional model who is half Bahraini and half Russian. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
Evlin Khalifa was crowned Miss Universe Bahrain last year. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
The moment Khalifa was crowned. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
Khalifa, from Riffa, is the second beauty queen from Bahrain. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
Seven finalists of the Bahrain national pageant. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
Khalifa competes in the evening gown wearing a dress by Filipino designer Furne One whose Amato label is based in Dubai. AP -
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 -
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 -
Evlin Khalifa in elegant Middle Eastern-style fashion. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
Evlin Khalifa says she is committed to dressing more modestly than other contestants. Photo: Miss Universe Bahrain -
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
“Khalifa is a true standout in the headshot as she carries not only her beautiful face but also her core, her story, her values and culture," said Josh Yugen, owner and national director of Miss Universe Bahrain.
Miss Universe recently changed ownership, after Thai media entrepreneur Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip acquired the franchise from IMG through her company JKN Global Group.
Jakrajutatip promised to build on the pageant's 70-year legacy and further its commitment to inclusivity. There are also plans to expand the Miss Universe brand, including the launch of MU Lifestyle, a new licensing and merchandising arm.
"We seek not only to continue its legacy of providing a platform to passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and traditions, but also to evolve the brand for the next generation," she said.
Earlier this month, four former Miss Universe winners joined the reigning queen, India's Harnaaz Sandhu, to celebrate Jakrajutatip at a gala event in Bangkok.
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Miss Universe winners through the years and the organisation's new owner Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip at the Miss Universe Extravaganza in Bangkok, Thailand. From left, Catriona Gray (Philippines), Andrea Meza (Mexico), Jakrajutatip, Harnaaz Sandhu (India), Leila Lopes (Angola) and Natalie Glebova (Canada). All photos: AFP -
The group appeared together weeks after Jakrajutatip, the chief executive of Thai media and content company JKN Global Group, acquired the Miss Universe Organisation from IMG. -
Miss Universe 2005 Glebova on stage. -
Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopez. -
From left, Miss Universe president Paula Shugart, Jakrajutatip and Miss Universe chief executive Amy Emmerich. -
Jakrajutatip said she will work to evolve the Miss Universe brand for the next generation. -
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray arrives at the event. -
Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza on stage. -
Jakrajutatip is the first woman owner in the 70-year history of the global beauty competition. -
The gala event was held at the Siam Pavalai Royal Grand Theatre in Bangkok.
Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova of Canada, Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes of Angola, Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Meza of Mexico and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray of the Philippines shared the stage with Miss Universe 2021 Sandhu and Jakrajutatip at the gala event at the Siam Pavalai Royal Grand Theatre.
Reigning Miss Universe Thailand Anna Sueangam-iam and Miss Universe Spain 2018 Angela Ponce were also at the event along with Miss Universe president Paula Shugart and chief executive Amy Emmerich.
"Transformational beauty is not just about winning the crown," said Yugen. "It is about the unity of women as they cherish and nurture a common purpose which is to empower young ladies and spread peace, love and courage.
"I believe that Anne is a great soul to lead this pack of empowering candidates."
Miss Universe 2022, the contest's 71st event, was postponed to January, with New Orleans set to host the pageant. This means two Miss Universe contests will likely be held next year, one later in the year to crown the 2023 winner.
Miss Universe 2022 beauty queens crowned, from Turkey to Italy and Kyrgyzstan — in pictures
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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
