Miss Universe Guatemala Michelle Cohn/MISS UNIVERSE GUATEMALA FACEBOOK PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Miss Universe pageant has now found the first married woman and mother to qualify for the international competition in Guatemalan contender Michelle Cohn, who captured her national crown earlier this week.
The 28-year-old pageant veteran edged out 14 other aspirants for the Miss Universe Guatemala title in ceremonies held at the Gran Sala Efrain Recinos of the Centro Cultural Miguel Angel Asturias in Guatemala City on Aug. 6 (Aug. 7 in Manila). She was also proclaimed as “Top Model” and “Best Photography Model” in the national competition.
The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) announced last year that the competition will start accepting applicants who have been married or are still married, even those who have children, starting with the 72nd edition of the pageant this year. The revision on the requirements was revealed even before Anne Jakrajutatip of Bangkok-based media giant JKN Global Group acquired the organization.
The Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) organization also recognized the new directive, and opened the national competition to married women, and those who have children. Three mothers qualified for the 2023 contest, with one of them advancing to the semifinals.
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Cohn is married to Andres Matheu, with whom she has two children, one son and one daughter. She holds a degree in public relations and communications and speaks Spanish and English.
She started modeling in 2011, and has been joining pageants since 2013. She has represented Guatemala in several international competitions, even scoring podium finishes in some of them. She has also joined the first edition of the Miss Grand International pageant in Thailand in 2013.
No Guatemalan woman has ever captured the Miss Universe title. The country first sent a delegate in 1955, Maria del Rosario Chacon who finished in the Top 15. The country’s highest placement was recorded by Ilma Urrutia and Jessica Scheel, who entered the Top 10 in 1984 and 2010, respectively.
Cohn will compete against more than 90 international delegates, including Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee, in the 2023 Miss Universe pageant. The coronation is set on Nov. 18 (Nov. 19 in Manila) in El Salvador. EDV