Guatemala crowns first ‘beauty-queen-mommy’ for Miss Universe 2023
A brand-new milestone will be made as a Miss Universe 2023 candidate prepares to shatter barriers and carry a monumental legacy. Michelle Cohn of Guatemala makes history by becoming the first mother to officially compete in the pageant’s 72-year run.
Winning her country’s pageant last August 6, she will be heading for the international competition in El Salvador this November.
Guatemala crowns first ‘beauty-queen-mommy’ for Miss Universe 2023
Michelle is a 28-year-old model and presenter from Guatemala City. Not new to pageantry, she first competed at the inaugural Miss Grand International pageant in 2013.
A proud mother of two, she and her husband Andres Matheu are parents to both a son and a daughter.
While she might have successfully won the crown, she isn’t the first mother to take part in a national competition. Other countries have seen—and are still witnessing—their own lineup of mothers and married candidates vying for their respective crowns.
This includes mothers like Camila Avella, who is currently competing at Miss Universe Colombia 2023, as well as Renata Guerra, who placed in the Top 7 of Miss Universe Brazil 2023. Praveenar Singh-Thakral, a married beauty queen is also in the middle of competing. Aiming to win the title of Miss Universe Thailand 2023.
Last September 2022, Miss Universe made the inclusive decision of allowing married women and mothers to compete in its pageant. According to MUO President Paula Shugart, being a Miss Universe titleholder is someone who can handle a job, regardless of whether she has a family or not.
A month ago, Dutchwoman Rikkie Valerie Kollé made her own groundbreaking moment as she becomes the second transgender woman to compete for the Miss Universe title.
Definitely a year of revolutionary wins and victories, we’re excited to see more diverse group of women shine. To get the representation they need and to spread their inspirational story to the universe.
