Miss Universe Philippines National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee. Image: INQUIRER.net/Armin P. Adina
MANILA, Philippines—The Miss Universe Organization’s announcement lifting its cap on the allowable age for aspirants to all its associated competitions caught the pageant world by surprise, but Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee said she was already expecting it.
“I believe it was eventually going to change because, first of all, [Miss Universe] R’Bonney [Gabriel] has been very vocal about the age limit. She’s, I think, one of the oldest reigning Miss Universe. She’s 29 years old, and the limit was up to 28 only,” Lee responded to INQUIRER.net’s question at a press event where MUPH signed Accredited Partners for nine new locations, held at La Creperie in Quezon City on Thursday, Sept. 14.
Gabriel said during the pageant’s question-and-answer round that she hoped to see an increase in the allowable age, and said, “I believe age does not define us. It’s not tomorrow, it’s not yesterday, but it’s now. The time is now that you can go after what you want.”
Lee said she already saw it coming because the Miss Supranational pageant had already raised its age limit to 32 in 2022. But what surprised her was the scrapping of any age cap. “Okay, so maybe they don’t want to mention a number. Because if they say 35, what about a 36-year-old who is still capable? Perhaps they want it to be open to all,” she said.
The national director and 2012 Miss Universe third runner-up said she slept through MUO’s announcement and was surprised to see a barrage of messages on her mobile phone when she woke up. She had to ascertain the legitimacy of the recent development by checking on her chat group with licensees from other countries. “I will only believe it if there’s an e-mail from MUO containing the information,” she said.
“So when we got that [e-mail], we talked among ourselves, among national directors and the [MUPH] org, the board of directors,” Lee shared. The national organization already shared on social media its support for the new direction, saying “eliminating the age limit opens up a world of possibilities, allowing more women to vie for the prestigious title. It means more stories, more experiences, and more wisdom on the Miss Universe stage.”
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Lee assured the public that a rigid selection process will still be put in place. “Some people’s reactions have been exaggerated. It doesn’t follow that because 50-year-olds are allowed that all our candidates will be 50-year-olds. When we accepted mothers, we only had three candidates, not all of them were mothers or married,” she explained.
“It’s not like there’s no rules anymore. But it just says that we don’t discriminate,” Lee added, saying the move would also ease some burdens for MUPH. They no longer have to investigate if an applicant is really not married or have not borne children. They also no longer have to ask their age, or compute if they are still qualified based on their birthday.
She said the resistance to the development was a result of a negative view. “I think we should look at it on a positive note. I don’t think it will dilute the competition. I think it will make the competition tougher, and when it’s tougher, then the most deserving will win. Because they will really pass through the needle’s eye,” Lee said.
“With all the new development, new rules that we’ve seen, it’s more of ‘we are open, come join.’ And if you’re qualified and you feel like you’re deserving, regardless of your height and also your age, if you’re married or you have children, if we feel like you are the best representation of your place, of your country, then you can achieve your dream,” she continued.
Before the MUO removed the maximum age limit for the 2024 competition, and the opening of its doors to mothers and married women for the 2023 edition, its first bold move was made in 2012 when then owner Donald Trump allowed trans woman Jenna Talackova to participate in the Miss Universe Canada pageant.
For the 2023 Miss Universe pageant, its 72nd edition, transgender woman Rikkie Valerie Kolle will represent the Netherlands. There are also two mothers who will participate—Michelle Cohn from Guatemala and Camila Avella from Colombia.
The three will join about 90 international delegates in the 2023 Miss Universe pageant in El Salvador in November. Model, actress and pageant veteran Michelle Dee will represent the Philippines in the competition. /ra