It was announced earlier this month that for the first time ever the UAE would partake in the global competition Miss Universe 2021.

Over the last few weeks, Miss Universe UAE has been flooded with applications from residents around the UAE and now the first 15 of the 30 finalists have been unveiled.

Photographs of the 15 competitors were released on the pageant’s social media handles, where they were all dressed in Dubai-based designer Amato Couture, photographed by Lucas Alves.

The finalists are as follows: Alma, 24, Dubai; Anita, 24, Dubai; Anna, 28, Dubai; Asher, 28, Dubai; Bahra, 26, Dubai; Dilnoza, 23, Dubai; Emilia, 24, Dubai; Frank, 27, Dubai; Jasmin, 22, Abu Dhabi; Natalia, 24, Dubai; Marwa, 23, Sharjah; Razan, 28, Abu Dhabi; Reem, 25, Abu Dhabi; Sara, 25, Dubai; and Victoria, 26, Dubai.

The entire top 30 are set to be presented in person at a charity dinner on November 4. The following day preliminary rounds will take place where the top 15 will be unveiled and then a top five will be selected.

On November 7, the winner and the representative for the global event will be announced.

Miss Universe UAE received over 15,000 candidates from eligible beauty queens all over the nation aged between 18 and 28 who have lived in the country for more than three years.

While the UAE version of the pageant has followed the traditional format of the global event thus far, one amendment has been made – foregoing the swimwear round.

This was dropped “in respect of the UAE’s culture and traditions”.

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Images: Miss Universe UAE