In a first, Miss Universe will allow married women and mothers to compete in the international pageant

Married women and moms will be permitted to compete in Miss Universe for the first time in the event’s history.

According to an internal memo obtained by The National, the new regulations will go into force for the 72nd Miss Universe contest in 2023. This year’s Miss Universe competition, which will take place in December, has already started with preliminary pageants.

A source close to the Miss Universe organisation told Insider that the memo was sent to country directors on Friday and that it verified the rule change.

“We all believe that women should have agency over their lives and that a human’s personal decisions should not be a barrier to their success,” the memo read, according to The National.

Previously, only single women, aged between 18 and 28, who have never been married or had children were allowed to apply. It wasn’t immediately clear if the age bracket will remain the same.

In addition to the international Miss Universe pageant, the Miss Universe Organisation, based in New York, also organizes the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants.

The competition has evolved over time. When Miss Universe Bahrain decided to walk the swimsuit round in fully-covered sportswear the previous year, she made history.