The Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) declared that the 70th edition of the competition would be held next December in Israel.
“70 years! The 70th Miss Universe competition is heading to Eilat, Israel! Miss Universe will air live around the world December 2021,” the organisation wrote on Twitter.
The global event will be broadcasted live on Fox in the US and also in 180 countries.
Delegations from about 100 countries are expected to attend the competition, including more than 1,200 official delegations, hundreds of journalists and TV crews, thousands of pageant enthusiasts and tourists, and more than 100 American celebrities, including top-tier artists world-famous judges.
Paula M. Shugart, President, Miss Universe Organisation, said, “Israel has been on our shortlist of host countries for several years due to its rich history, beautiful landscapes, myriad of cultures and appeal as a global tourist destination.”
As we sought a fantastic location for our 70th-anniversary celebration, it became clear through our conversations with acting Mayor Lankri and the Israeli Ministry that Israel has the best resources to host MISS UNIVERSE in December. We look forward to deepening our commitment to creating meaningful cultural conversation, connection and understanding through this partnership,” she added.
However, social media users expressed concern for choosing Israel as the host country due to its poor human rights record. It has recently waged 11-day aggression on Gaza, leaving more than 170 people died including dozens of children.
Activists also pointed out that the event will be organised in the southern resort city of Eilat, an Israeli town built on the ruins of the Palestinian village of Umm Al-Rashrash in 1949.
Thus, many have called for the event to be cancelled or moved from Israel.
It is worth mentioning that the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is a global community that was owned by former President Donald Trump from 1996 until he sold it to WME/IMG in 2015.
