Miss Universe Jamaica Daena Soares says the Miss Universe organization’s decision to lift restrictions banning pregnant women and mothers is a move in the right direction.

For more than 70 years, the Miss Universe franchise had forbidden the inclusion of married or pregnant women.

But, on August 10, it was reported that this rule will cease to exist for the 72nd pageant in 2023.

While speaking with Our Today, Soares shared that she believes pageants came from a very dated perspective that presented women as virginal and pure, parading them as the best wife or girlfriend-to-be.

Soares shared that she agrees pageantry started off on a misogynistic perspective, but that that is no longer the case.

She added that now women exist in a space where they have so much more to offer and the outdated rule was a slight against women.

“It seemed like a slight against all women to discredit the skill sets of moms and married women, just because of some socially conceived status.”

The decision to now include these women is also a strong statement to those who view pageantry from a misogynistic point of view, said Soares.

Representation important

Soares also shared with Our Today that she believes representation is very important in pageantry and hopes this new decision will encourage more women to become a part of the organisation.

“When you see a single mom who has been doing her own thing take this leap of faith to inspire other young moms or other women, it is great. I think we need more positive representation, especially for women in Jamaica and I don’t think [this decision] could ever work negatively against us.”

When asked what other restrictions she would change, Soares shared that she would remove the age requirement.

Currently, the organisation only allows young women ages 18 to 28 to participate, something she said is controversial.

“This goes back to the idea that our society has about women and it’s almost like we have a shelf life. So, when all of those organisations are changing the way we view how women age, I think it will be an amazing step.”

She noted that it has been rumoured that an expansion of the age range is coming. But, nothing has been confirmed yet.

Consideration for the differently abled community

In addition to the expansion in the age range, Soares shared she believes the organisation should also include women who are differently abled.

She clarified that, though the restriction of the differently abled community “is not necessarily a rule, it shows bias, not on the part of the organisation but on how society views women that belong to the [disabled community]”.

Said Soares: “Representation is going to be so much more important as we are opening the discourse on these really important issues that need to have their own space and niche within society. So, I would love to see those changes enacted over time.”

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