The 71st Miss Universe competition occurs this evening in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event will showcase almost 90 women from around the world, vying for the job of Miss Universe. The champion of this year’s event will wear a crown created by Lebanese Jeweler Fred Mouawad, valued at nearly $6 million.
Adorned with a 45.14 carat royal blue sapphire symbolizing hope and 110 carats of blue sapphires and 48 carats of colorless diamonds, the crown’s rippling waves “reflect the need for any call of change repeated across time.”
Gems are set in rippling wave motifs, that reflect the need for any call for change to be repeated across time – and to various audiences – in order to build the momentum necessary for this change to emerge.
‘Modern Day Royalty’
The job of Miss Universe is won through a process of personal statements, interviews and fashion exhibitions. The evening’s culmination will see the 70th Miss Universe, Harnaaz Sandhu, crowning her successor.
During her reign in 2022, Harnaaz helped to launched a new coalition for menstrual equity in her home country of India, a partnership group that is dedicated to increasing access to safe menstrual care in India and around the world by increasing awareness of, and access to, low-cost, sustainable, and proven solutions that will improve the lives of women, girls, and their families. This initiative will reach 5 million women and girls in 200 locations throughout India by 2025 and create a platform for impact globally.
Championing Social Causes
The Miss Universe Organization provides women who participate in this international platform with the tools to affect positive change personally, professionally, and philanthropically serving as inspirational leaders and role models to their communities and fans around the world.
From Mayor LaToya Cantrell, New Orleans’ first female Mayor in the city’s 300-year history:
The City of New Orleans and the Miss Universe Organization share common values of celebrating inclusion, culture and the empowerment of women. Former Miss Universe delegates and winners have gone on to become surgeons, diplomats, politicians and business leaders, and they all champion social causes that are important to them. Hosting this event demonstrates the significant global impact an international city like New Orleans has on the world’s tourism and cultural stages.
From Fourth Generation Jeweler/Co-Guardian Fred Mouawad:
The design evokes the Miss Universe Organization’s belief in a future forged by women who push the limits of what’s possible and the incredible women from around the world who advocate for positive change.
This creative partnership draws on Mouawad’s strong heritage of designing jewelry for royalty and its reputation for crafting the extraordinary to craft exceptional, one-of-a-kind pieces befitting modern-day royalty.
