The first ever Miss Universe Somalia, Khadijah Omar. Picture: Instagram
For the first time ever in the history of beauty pageants, Somalia will be participating in the international Miss Universe beauty pageant.
Khadijah Omar was crowned Miss Universe Somalia 2024 in September. This makes Omar the first ever Hijabi woman to grace the Miss Universe stage and represent Somalia at the 73rd Miss Universe competition.
The 23-year-old has a history of participating in other beauty pageants and was crowned Miss World Somalia in 2021.
She also participated in the Miss Universe Canada 2024 beauty pageant where she was placed the 3rd runner up and won the title of Miss Photogenic.
The beauty influencer and model took to Instagram to thank her fans for the support they have shown her since she announced that she was crowned Miss Universe Somalia 2024.
“Thank you all for the incredible support! Since my announcement, everything has been happening so fast and I am taking a moment to fully embrace it all…
“I am honoured to represent Somalia and can’t wait to take you all along on this amazing journey. I hope my story inspires to chase your dreams, no matter how big they seem,” she captioned her post.
Omar’s advocacy is about raising awareness about the climate crisis in Somalia.
It is undeniable that African countries want to change the stigma around beauty pageants all over the world.
South Africa crowned the first ever deaf contestant, Mia le Roux Miss South Africa 2024 to change the stigma that beauty pageants are only for people who do not have disabilities. Le Roux is going to represent South Africa at the Miss Universe competition.
Egypt also changed the notion that you should be perfect looking in order to be in their beauty pageants, as they crowned the first-ever vitiligo contestant, Loginah Salah. Salah was crowned Miss Universe Egypt 2024 and is going to represent Egypt in Mexico City.
IOL