Miss Fix The Universe: Alternative ‘Pageant’ In Israel Highlights Beauty of Ideas

This article was first published by The Times of Israel and is re-posted with permission.

An international pageant that judges young women mainly on their physical appearance according to manufactured beauty standards may still be taking place in 2021, this time in the southern Israeli resort city of Eilat on Sunday evening, but not all critics are simply ignoring the 70th Miss Universe contest or dismissing it with an eye roll.

A group of Israeli women came up with an alternative event to the annual Miss Universe pageant, where 80 contestants from around the world will compete in evening gowns and swimwear for the title, answering a series of interview questions where the vague notion of “world peace” may or may not come up.

Part protest, part awareness campaign, the “Miss Fix the Universe” competition sought to highlight the beauty of the ideas and values behind Israeli women working on social initiatives in fields like sustainability, equality, and human rights. The event was the brainchild of the Israel Women’s Network, a feminist civil society organization that promotes gender equality, and was held Saturday evening at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation in Jaffa.

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Note: The 70th Miss Universe pageant was held yesterday, Sunday, December 12, 2021, in Eilat, Israel. Miss India was crowned winner.