Miss Universe competition will be held in Israel in December

The Miss Universe Organization announced Tuesday that the pageant will be held this December in the southern resort city of Eilat.

“Israel has been on our shortlist of host countries for a number of years due to its rich history, beautiful landscapes, myriad of cultures, and appeal as a global tourist destination,” said President of the MUO Paula M. Shugart. “It became clear that Israel has the best resources to host Miss Universe. We look forward to deepening our commitment to creating meaningful cultural conversation, connection, and understanding through this partnership,” Shugart added.

There will be three weeks of television events, which include the semi-finals and finals of the competition, as well as the national costume show, galas, charity events, and more.

In the statement, MUO noted Israel’s attractiveness, rich history, a vast amount of tourist and resort sites, and experience at hosting international events such as the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest as key in choosing Israel as the host country for this year’s event, which will once again be presented by American TV personality and entertainer Steve Harvey. Yes, he will be back, along with FOX TV.

With the live show being viewed by some 300 million people worldwide annually, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and over 1.3 billion people following the pageant by either broadcast, print, or social media, an event of international proportions such as the Miss Universe pageant has the potential to establish Eilat and Israel as a prominent tourist destination. Organizers claim that the show will be broadcast to close to 160 countries and territories.

Meza, a former software engineer, has advocated for women’s rights and is also encouraging people to get the vaccine from COVID-19. Soon after she was named Miss Universe, Meza invited the media to cover her first vaccination shot in New York.

In a statement released by the Miss Universe Organization, Meza said she hopes “as many people as possible” get vaccinated so they can participate in the 70th Miss Universe contest.