On October 3 in Cairo, Nariman Khaled beat out 17 other contestants to take home the crown for Miss Universe Egypt 2018, a title previously held by Egyptian icon Iolanda Gigliotti (more commonly known as Dalida), who won the 1954 competition. The beauty queen, who hails from Hurghada, was selected by an expert panel, which comprised of reigning Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters and her predecessor Farah Sedky, as well as stylist Farah Baky and the National Director of Miss Universe Hoda Abboud. Leila Rihan was crowned first runner-up, while Noreen Elhosary was the second runner-up.
Khaled, who studied Business Informatics at BIS, will join the newly minted Miss Lebanon 2018 Maya Reaidy in December to compete for the prestigious Miss Universe 2018 title in Bangkok. Should Khaled win, she will be the first Egyptian contestant to claim the title. Though Antigone Costanda was the first Miss Egypt candidate to win one of the Big Four international beauty pageants, taking home the title for Egypt in the Miss World 1954 competition, which took place in London. The Cairo-born beauty queen beat out 16 other contestants from Greece, France, Germany, and Turkey, among others.
If Khaled or Readiy win, they will receive a one-year contract with the Miss Universe Organization, which will see them traveling overseas to perform charity work and raise awareness for diseases and education. The winner will also receive room and board in a luxury apartment in New York City plus cash allowance for her entire reign, a New York Film Academy scholarship, a modeling portfolio with WME IMG, which happens to be the Miss Universe parent organization, a year supply of beauty products, a custom-styled new wardrobe, healthcare, as well as invitations to to events such as fashion shows, movie premieres, and opening galas throughout New York.
Meanwhile, over the weekend, Reem Ra’fat was crowned Miss Egypt 2018 by the former Miss World Egypt, Nadeen Osama. The Miss Universe Egypt contest comes just days after the widely-televised Miss Lebanon 2018 event, which saw 30 young hopefuls compete in front of a superstar panel that comprised Nancy Ajram and Nicolas Jebran. The annual Miss Universe competition was established 66 years ago. Along with Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, Miss Universe is one of the Big Four international beauty pageants.
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