Pakistan is making history by sending five models to compete in the prestigious Miss Universe pageant. This landmark moment marks the first time Pakistan has ever been represented in the world's most esteemed beauty competition.

These five models were selected from a pool of over 200 applicants from around the world.

To add to their global appeal, the contestants participated in an exquisite photoshoot set in the picturesque Maldives, adorned in creations by the renowned Filipino designer, Fern One.

One among these exceptional women will be crowned as the official representative of Pakistan at the Miss Universe pageant, scheduled to be held in El Salvador later this year.

Josh Ugen, the visionary behind this remarkable journey, is the head of the Yugin Group, headquartered in Dubai. The group also holds the franchise rights for Miss Universe Bahrain and Miss Universe Egypt, expanding its reach across the globe.

To further engage the global audience and empower fans to participate actively, Yugen Group has joined hands with the voting app Choisely. This collaboration offers fans the unique opportunity to support their favorite contestants. The contestant with the highest number of votes at mupakistan.choicely.com will be rewarded with a perfect 10 score, which will be incorporated into the judges' final evaluation.

The eagerly awaited crowning ceremony is scheduled for Thursday at 7 PM UAE time, and it will be broadcast on the Miss Universe YouTube channel. This momentous occasion is set against the backdrop of a month-long extravaganza, as more than 60 countries have already introduced their representatives for Miss Universe 2023.

The grand finale, scheduled for November 18, will witness the reigning title holder, Urbani Nola Gabriel from America, passing on her prestigious crown to her worthy successor.

Among the five contestants are Erica Rabin (24), Hira Inam (24), Jessica Wilson (28), Malika Alvi (19), and Sabrina Wasim (26).

Controversy

Amid all this, many news outlets said that Pakistan had five finalists in Miss Universe Pakistan.

This caused a big debate in the country. Famous scholar, Mufti Taqi Usmani, talked about it on his social media, criticizing this development.

He warned that if these reports were true, it could make people question whether Pakistan was giving up its important values in international events like this.

The Caretaker Minister, Murtaza Solangi, made it clear where the government stood on this issue. He said that Pakistan's official representatives should be from the government.

This was a response to what the journalist had posted on social media. At the same time, news reports kept the debate alive, with some people supporting the idea of Pakistan's participation in Miss Universe, while others disagreed.