Actress-TV host Jervi Li, popularly known as KaladKaren on Sunday took to social media to praise the inclusivity of the Miss Universe 2023 pageant.
Following the announcement of Miss Universe 2023 Top 20, KaladKaren posted on X (formerly Twitter) platform how diverse the candidates who made it to the roster is.
“Transgender woman (Portugal) plus-sized (Nepal) mother (Colombia) and of course, Philippines in the Top 20!!!!!! Hello, inclusivity! Hello, Universe!!!!! #MissUniverse2023,” she wrote.
“… And a Muslim woman (Pakistan). They are all women. And this is what Miss Universe is all about!” she added.
KaladKaren is also a transgender.
Last Friday, resigned Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shugart, instrumental to the inclusion of transgender contestants in 2012, took pride of the inclusivity of the Miss Universe pageant.
READ: Philippines mentioned in Miss Universe Organization’s message as Paula Shugart exits
The pageant allowed transgender contestants in 2012. Miss Spain 2018 Angela Ponce, a rival of Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, became the first Miss Universe first trans contestant.
MUO’s current owner is also transgender Thai entrepreneur Anne Jakrajutatip. She purchased the organization from IMG in October 2022.
READ: Thai businesswoman buys Miss Universe pageant for $20 million
Miss Universe also further changed its rules to “celebrate all cultures, backgrounds and religions.”
It now allows contestants who had been married, or have children.
Miss Universe also scrapped the age limit, making all adult women eligible to join allowed women aged between 18 to 28 years old to join the pageant.
READ: Michelle Dee teases beauty queen cousin Winwyn Marquez after Miss Universe scrapped age limit | Pinay Miss Universe partner supports inclusion of mothers, married women in pageant
USA’s R’Bonney Gabriel is the oldest Miss Universe titleholder at 29 years old. She won the crown when she was 28.
Meanwhile, the inclusive Miss Universe 2023 is being held in El Salvador, here are the top 20 candidates which included a transgender, a mother, a plus-size woman and a Muslim woman.
- Nicaragua
- Spain
- Puerto rico
- Namibia
- Venezuela
- India
- Thailand
- Jamaica
- Chile
- USA
- Nepal
- Peru
- Cameroon
- Colombia
- Pakistan
- Australia
- Philippines
- Portugal
- South Africa
- El Salvador
TOP 20 REVEAL! ✨
Say hello to your official 72nd MISS UNIVERSE Competition TOP 20 in their @clarissedesigns opening gowns!✨#72ndMissUniverse #MissUniverse2023 #ad#72ndMISSUNIVERSE #MissUniverse2023” pic.twitter.com/hUQJDEzORd
— Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) November 19, 2023
Twenty-eight-year-old Camila Avella, Miss Colombia, a wife and a mother, advanced to the Top 10 and Top 5. She failed to make it to the Top 3.
