Jasmine Omay flies to India for back-to-back quest in Universal Woman 2025

August 2 ------ More than four months since receiving her surprise appointment as the Philippines’ representative in the 2025 Universal Woman competition, pilot Jasmine Omay has finally taken her flight to India.

The pageant was previously scheduled in June in Jaipur, India, but organizers decided to postpone the proceedings after the South Asian nation launched retaliatory missile attacks on a Pakistani-controlled area of the Kashmir region. “This decision has been made with the utmost concern for the safety and wellbeing of our candidates, national directors, team members, and everyone involved,” the Universal Woman organization said in a statement released in May.

More than just a beauty pageant, Universal Woman positions itself as “the international congress of successful women.” It has a more inclusive set of qualifications, allowing married woman, mothersà and transgender women to take part. It also has a wider age bracket for participants, accepting candidates from 25 to 45 years old. Reigning queen Maria Gigante from the Philippines was crowned last year at the age of 30.

Gigante, the first-ever Filipino woman to take part in the Universal Woman pageant, will relinquish her international title on Aug. 10. Forty-three women from around the world will try to inherit her crown. Omay was appointed as the Philippines’ representative to the 2025 Universal Woman pageant in March, replacing the previously crowned Universal Woman Philippines Sophia Bianca Santos who did not meet the minimum age requirement.

Omay was First Princess in the 2024 Miss World Philippines pageant. Santos, who was Second Princess, later took part in the sister competition Miss Grand Philippines where she received the Universal Woman title.

ALV Pageant Circle, organizer of both the Miss World Philippines and Miss Grand Philippines pageants, said Santos will be sent to the Miss Elite competition in Egypt instead.

Source: inquirer.net