SINGAPORE (ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES) – In a move towards greater inclusivity, Miss Universe Singapore (MUS) is broadening its eligibility criteria for the 2024 beauty pageant.
This year’s competition welcomes Singaporean citizens who are married, divorced, or have children, with no upper age limit imposed.
To participate, contestants must be at least 18 years old, reside in Singapore, and have lived there for a minimum of six months before 1 September 2024.
These conditions align with the new guidelines set by the Miss Universe Organisation, which has officially removed the upper age limit starting from 2024.
In contrast, the 2023 MUS pageant was restricted to single women aged 18 to 28 who had never been married.
Additionally, for 2024, a minimum height requirement of 1.68 meters has been introduced, a criterion that was absent in the previous year.
MUS 2024 is jointly organised by Beyond Entity, a Malaysian company with over a decade of experience in pageantry, and King Kong Media Production, the regional entertainment company headed by Singaporean actor Mark Lee.
The top prize is USD10,000 and the winner will represent Singapore on the international stage at Miss Universe 2024, which will be held in Mexico in September.
MUS’ national director and Miss Universe Malaysia 2003 Elaine Daly, said in a statement: “This competition is more than just a crown. It’s a platform to inspire and advocate for causes close to your heart.”
Lee added that the MUS platform also offers women the opportunity to make a mark in the entertainment industry, adding: “We are seeking not just beauty queens but future actresses as well, following in the footsteps of many renowned actresses who began their journeys as beauty queens.”
MUS alumni who have gone on to pursue acting careers include Mediacorp actresses Cheryl Chou (who won MUS in 2016) and Rebecca Lim (Miss Photogenic and Top 5 of MUS 2005).
Entrepreneur Priyanka Annuncia was named MUS 2023, while Nicaragua’s Sheynnis Palacios was crowned Miss Universe 2023 at the pageant held in El Salvador in November 2023.
