Pexels / Carmel Nsenga
Mela Habijan shares her thoughts on the 74th edition of Miss Universe.
As a fan of the most coveted pageant crown, it pains me to write this: Miss Universe, the regal stage that once influenced my dreams and helped shape my trans identity, is losing its glory and credibility.
Its prestige, its purpose, and its promise of empowerment that made the brand truly iconic are all dimming under questionable leadership and misaligned priorities. Thus, with all the scandals, controversies, and drama that surround it today, I couldn’t help but ask: have we already lived through the pageant’s best years?
I refuse to say yes.
While it’s under a critical era, its 74-year history is also a testament to its ability to listen to the signs of the times, adapt, and evolve.
Sure, people can argue that Miss Universe once catered to the male gaze, that it was owned by Trump, that it is ultimately a business, and that it has also failed to crown the most deserving woman in the past. Yes, it was certainly far from perfect. Yet, the organization still managed to arrive at a clear and meaningful vision: to find an empowered spokesperson with the ability to influence, inspire, and lead.
This was strongly evident during the IMG era (from 2015 to 2021), my favorite chapter. It was a time when the Miss Universe crown felt like a holistic and genuine symbol of women and queer empowerment. Candidates were beyond physical beauty and pasarelas. They were outspoken leaders, thinkers, advocates, and visionaries, women who didn’t just wear the crown but embodied it.
More importantly, it was a trailblazing era for inclusivity and representation. We will never forget the trailblazers: Canada’s Sierra Bearchell, the first plus-size woman who stood for body positivity and self-love in 2016; UK’s Muna Jama, the first Muslim woman to compete in hijab in 2017; Spain’s Angela Ponce, the first trans woman to walk on Miss Universe stage in 2018; and Myanmar’s Swe Zin Het, who proudly declared that she is a lesbian during the 2019 pageant.
After witnessing them owning their confidently beautiful truths, groundbreaking policy changes happened thereafter. MUO widened its stage for women whose stories were once shut out: married women, mothers, and women over 27 years old.
It was satisfying to see Miss Universe celebrating all women without boundaries, it’s a step in the right direction.
And we can take this power back!
We may have seen a misdirection in the past two years, but as fans, we can use our voices and rally behind the Miss Universe that we have loved through and through: a platform for empowerment and influence. Miss Universe Lara Dutta said it best in 2000, that “[Miss Universe] gives [women] a platform to voice our choices and opinions, and it makes us strong and independent that we are today.”
As fans, we can steer it back to what it stood for: impact.
Its impact lies in the integrity of the process by which its ambassadors are chosen. The selection process must yield credible results, so no one would contest why the newly crowned queen won; consequently, the entire universe would hold her hand throughout her reign.
Let’s go after queens of substance: sharp, witty, fearless.
Like Miss Universe Brooke Lee (1997) who would eat everything in the world twice; Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi (2019) who would teach young girls leadership so they can take up space and cement themselves in society; and of course, our very own Miss Universe Catriona Gray (2018) who would foster smiles on the faces of children by teaching people to be grateful.
Let’s reiterate the virtue of standing out through standing for the causes they believe in.
Like our Pinay Pride Pia Wurtzbach (2015) who kept her promise to use her voice to influence the youth and raise awareness for causes like HIV through LoveYourself; Rbonney Gabriel (2023) who has continued her craft as an eco-conscious fashion designer by using sustainable materials; and Demi-Leigh Tebow who continues to impart her confidence and ability to overcome fears to other women through her project, Unbreakable.
And as fans, let’s team up and crown queens of unmatched tenacity who showcase joy in making their country proud, discipline in preparation, and grace even in defeat.
Let’s create an era where there’s no such thing as “sash factors”, where every woman is a strong contender, and where we root for other candidates aside from our own.
When they are on the Miss Universe stage, they are all equally worthy of the title; after all, they were chosen by their respective nations to represent them. What we are looking for is the most deserving queen, the one who is meant to lead and unite the universe about shared humanity.
And our Miss Universe knows no nationality.
Miss Universe has shaped generations of fans, including me.
Since 1991, Miss Universe has been my well of joy, my source of inspiration, and my annual reminder that women like me could take up space, lead with heart, and move audiences with their stories.
It helped me to courageously own my beautiful and unique womanhood. It taught me that my trans identity is not something to be hidden, but something to be celebrated. It gave me heroines who spoke, fought, and inspired.
While the chaos hurts, I still believe that we can reclaim the glory and credibility of Miss Universe. This chaos can be a catalyst for transparency, meaningful purpose, and true empowerment.
And if there’s one thing that Miss Universe knows, it evolves. And as it evolves, I won’t just be watching. Rather, I commit to joining its metamorphosis into its most powerful, credible, and inspiring era yet.
