Maria Jose Unda, the organization's coordinator of foreign relations, told AFP that the Miss Universe Organization "is currently undergoing a rigorous vetting process qualifying a potential candidate to be awarded the Saudi Arabia franchise."
"We'll make a decision on the National Director for Saudi Arabia very, very soon," she stated, adding that it was "possible" that Saudi Arabia will have a competitor before the competition's September 2019 Mexico edition.
The announcement followed after Saudi model Rumy al-Qahtani, who has hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers, made waves online in late March by posting on the platform that she was “honoured” to represent Saudi Arabia at Miss Universe.
The post featured images of Qahtani, a 27-year-old Riyadh resident, waving the green Saudi flag with the Islamic creed, or shahada, engraved on it while wearing a sequined dress.
In a statement released less than a week later, Miss Universe called Qahtani's tweet “false and misleading” and said that no selection process had taken place in the Gulf state.
The post featured images of Qahtani, a 27-year-old Riyadh resident, waving the green Saudi flag with the Islamic creed, or shahada, engraved on it while wearing a sequined dress.
In a statement released less than a week later, Miss Universe called Qahtani's tweet “false and misleading” and said that no selection process had taken place in the Gulf state.
If a Miss Universe contestant is chosen, it would be another move in Saudi Arabia's attempt to sooth its ultra-conservative reputation as the country attempts to attract businesses and tourists under the de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Arabia, the largest exporter of crude oil worldwide, has a long history of being linked to the oppression of women due to laws that once required women to wear abaya robes and prohibited them from driving.
Human rights advocates claim that even though those limitations have been removed, a personal status law that went into force in 2022 still discriminates against women in areas related to marriage, divorce, and raising children.
Saudi Arabia, the largest exporter of crude oil worldwide, has a long history of being linked to the oppression of women due to laws that once required women to wear abaya robes and prohibited them from driving.
Human rights advocates claim that even though those limitations have been removed, a personal status law that went into force in 2022 still discriminates against women in areas related to marriage, divorce, and raising children.
In addition, a broad drive against dissent has picked up women, including well-known campaigners.
Among them are two women who were sentenced to decades in jail in 2022 for posting critical comments about the government on social media.
"Unfavorable remarks"
Speaking from the house in Riyadh where she lives with her mother and three sisters, Qahtani insisted she was in "negotiations" to compete in Miss Universe, but she would not elaborate.
"The Miss Universe committee has reached out to me to serve as Saudi Arabia's representative. She said to AFP in her first interview since her March Instagram image went viral, "Negotiations started, but it was during the month of Ramadan and I wasn't able to respond."
"We're still in negotiations, so hopefully everything works out well in the end."
According to Maria Jose Unda, a representative of Miss Universe, in order to select a delegate to be sent to Mexico, a national director must host a Miss Universe Saudi Arabia pageant.
Among them are two women who were sentenced to decades in jail in 2022 for posting critical comments about the government on social media.
Speaking from the house in Riyadh where she lives with her mother and three sisters, Qahtani insisted she was in "negotiations" to compete in Miss Universe, but she would not elaborate.
"The Miss Universe committee has reached out to me to serve as Saudi Arabia's representative. She said to AFP in her first interview since her March Instagram image went viral, "Negotiations started, but it was during the month of Ramadan and I wasn't able to respond."
"We're still in negotiations, so hopefully everything works out well in the end."
According to Maria Jose Unda, a representative of Miss Universe, in order to select a delegate to be sent to Mexico, a national director must host a Miss Universe Saudi Arabia pageant.
"We don't care why (Qahtani) declared her candidacy, but she will have to go through the same selection process as all the other contestants if she wants to compete in the Saudi Arabia pageant," the spokesperson stated.
Qahtani told AFP that she has competed in pageants throughout the Middle East and Europe in the past and that she had multiple sashes from those events.
During her attempt to become the next big thing in beauty pageants, she talked about having to deal with a lot of unexpected inquiries regarding Saudi Arabia. One such inquiry came from a competitor in Europe who wanted to know if she kept barrels of crude oil stashed in her home.
Qahtani told AFP that she has competed in pageants throughout the Middle East and Europe in the past and that she had multiple sashes from those events.
During her attempt to become the next big thing in beauty pageants, she talked about having to deal with a lot of unexpected inquiries regarding Saudi Arabia. One such inquiry came from a competitor in Europe who wanted to know if she kept barrels of crude oil stashed in her home.
She has made an effort to control any potential criticism from conservative Saudis who may take issue with her attire or her choice to post a photo of herself draped in the Saudi flag on Instagram last year.
"When I pictured myself with the flag wearing what people considered to be immodest clothing, there were some negative comments made about how I dress," she stated.
But she clarified that she didn't feel any remorse.
"A lot of sports fans visualize themselves holding the flag in the same manner as I did," she remarked.
"I didn't mean to offend anyone at all; each girl in beauty pageants carries the flag of her own country as well."
"When I pictured myself with the flag wearing what people considered to be immodest clothing, there were some negative comments made about how I dress," she stated.
But she clarified that she didn't feel any remorse.
"A lot of sports fans visualize themselves holding the flag in the same manner as I did," she remarked.
"I didn't mean to offend anyone at all; each girl in beauty pageants carries the flag of her own country as well."
Rumy's mother, Fawzia Ayed, expressed her optimism to AFP that her daughter will not give up in the face of criticism.
"I usually encourage her to keep going, pointing out that she's gone a long way for a Saudi girl. "Before, society was rigid and closed off," the woman remarked.
"Many girls have been inspired by Rumy. I see that a lot of people get in touch with her to ask how she accomplished this and to express their want to join as well.
"I usually encourage her to keep going, pointing out that she's gone a long way for a Saudi girl. "Before, society was rigid and closed off," the woman remarked.
"Many girls have been inspired by Rumy. I see that a lot of people get in touch with her to ask how she accomplished this and to express their want to join as well.
SOURCE: AFP