DUBAI: Three contestants from the Arab world put on a show during the preliminary rounds of the 72nd Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador over the weekend.
With the final competition set to take place on Nov. 18, hopefuls from around the world hit the stage for the preliminary catwalk round and the national costume portion of the event this weekend.
Miss Universe Bahrain Lujane Yacoub, Miss Universe Egypt Mohra Tantawy and Miss Universe Lebanon Maya Aboul Hosn all showed off glamorous evening gowns and national costumes.
Yacoub’s national costume paid tribute to Bahraini pearls.
“Miss Universe Bahrain @lujaneyacoub’s message on her national costume is the preservation of Bahrain’s Pearl Heritage,” the model posted on Instagram. “Natural pearls are one of the world’s great treasures and a key part of the Gulf country’s culture and economy. She is wearing a farasha (butterfly) cut modern jalabiya embellished with pearls by couture designer Carla Fuentes,” the statement added.
For her part, Tantawy paid tribute to the Nile.
“The name of the national costume is Wafaa el Nil Meaning ‘fidelity of the Nile’ … Mohra Tantawy’s message on her national costume is the preservation of the Nile.
The Nile has played a critical role in the history of Ancient Egypt. Famous as the longest river in the world, ‘Wafaa el Nil’ is also the name of the Egyptian festival that celebrates the flooding of the Nile. One of the main reasons the flooding was so treasured was that the flooding would leave behind black silt, the silt was rich in minerals and vitamins that made the land very fertile allowing the crops planted not only to grow but to flourish in what was otherwise desert all around,” read a statement posted on her Instagram page.
The three models spoke to Arab News ahead of the competition and gave their supporters a glimpse of their challenges and goals.
“I am no longer speaking for myself, but for the entire GCC on this global stage. It’s forced me to look at many important issues and see where Bahrain stands on things, as a collective,” Yacoub said.
Tantawy is still wrapping her head around the events of the past few months.
“I never expected myself to be here. I didn’t grow up with pageantry. It wasn’t something that was instilled in me at a young age, but I am a strong believer of what is meant for you will find you and that is exactly what Miss Universe Egypt did, it found me,” she said.
Meanwhile, Aboul Hosn hopes to use her platform to be a role model in the Arab world.
“My main cause is to be a role model for every girl. I come from a very humble family. I’m not a wealthy princess. I worked hard to achieve what I want. And that’s what I want every girl to know. If you work hard, you can achieve your dreams and goals,” she said.
The 72nd Miss Universe is taking place on Nov. 18 evening in El Salvador, so fans in the Gulf region can tune in on Sunday morning at 5 a.m. on the official Miss Universe YouTube account
