Miss Universe 2024 has officially chosen a latest queen. This 12 months’s title was won by Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark, a decision that sparked each joy and controversy. Some praised the pageant queen’s blonde hair and blue eyes, traits long related to Eurocentric ideals, and Nigerian Chidimma Adetshina made headlines as first runner-up. Celebrated for her intelligence, elegance and the best way she embodied the vibrancy of African beauty on the Miss Universe stage, the response to Adetshina’s close victory left many questions: Is the world ready to totally embrace diverse definitions of beauty – or are we still falling back on the usual tropes?

While each women’s achievements deserve recognition, many viewers felt that Adetshina’s spectacular performance, which included a thoughtful and powerful response to the importance of respect, deserved the crown. Importantly, her presence was also one other step forward for the African representation on the international stage. However, some saw Adetshina’s second-place finish as a symbol of what many see as subconscious bias – suggesting that even in an increasingly diverse competition, beauty standards rooted in Western ideals still dominate.

The surrounding discourse has been further confused by a Donald Trump Jr.’s polarizing tweet which read: “Biological (and) objectively attractive women can win beauty pageants again. WE ARE BACK!!!” Following a historic, contentious and racially charged presidential election, commentary has shifted attention from the competition itself – an entity formerly owned by the Trump family – to broader questions about how diversity and inclusion will evolve in our current climate.

A step back?

Instead of weighing each contestant’s merits, the conversation not centers on whether the winner deserved the crown, but moderately on how Theilvig’s victory was framed as a “return” to the supposed natural order of beauty. At the press conference following Theilvig’s nomination as Miss Universe 2024, the pageant’s owner, Thai businesswoman Anne Jakrajutatip, said the organization had achieved “the best version of Miss Universe” with a blonde and blue-eyed titleholder. Statements like Jakrajutatip and Trump Jr., highlighting nostalgia for traditionally Eurocentric standards, have sparked discussion about broader implications for the way beauty is or needs to be defined.

In recent years, beauty pageants, including Miss Universe, have taken significant steps to have a good time women from all walks of life. Winners equivalent to South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi (2019) and India’s Harnaaz Sandhu (2021) have shown that beauty isn’t limited to any single set of characteristics or standards. These moments sent a vital message about inclusivity, diversity and progress in the worldwide arena. So, for Breana Turner, a seasoned pageant contestant who became the primary Miss Virginia volunteerthe sudden change in narrative raises some concern.

“I can’t help but think that as a black woman who has competed in (the state) for years (and) who has always known that the odds were basically against me for a few reasons,” Turner said in Video from TikTok. “I am unable to help but consider the message she’s sending to the owner of the Miss Universe organization, saying that they’ve reached the highest of the mountain because they’ve a blonde-haired, blue-eyed winner. (Especially when) it goes against every thing the organization needs to be doing without delay.

But this 12 months’s emphasis on “traditional beauty” has raised concerns about whether this moment marks a step back in efforts to expand representation. While all participants bring their very own unique strengths to the stage, the language surrounding this win reignited conversations about who gets to define beauty and what those definitions mean for the long run of the national team.

Chidimma Adetshina, Miss Nigeria

Miss Nigeria’s performance in this 12 months’s pageant was a dazzling moment that deeply shocked the viewers. Her poise and charisma earned her a well-deserved second place universal admiration. While she has broken barriers and won hearts, for some her runner-up status inevitably feels bittersweet, further proof of the undeniable fact that whilst Black women proceed to embody excellence at every stage, they are sometimes missed or overshadowed. However, this doesn’t diminish the impact of Adetshina’s achievement.

“I’m very proud of myself and I just made history,” she said BBC after her victory.

“Nigeria made history,” she later added on Instagram, per WWD. “My voice and my story touched many and brought us closer together. This journey taught me the power of unity. I want us to live in a society where we can all accept and celebrate each other. This is not the end, but the beginning of my journey.”

Regardless of the end result, Adetshina’s success is a testament to the progress made in expanding representation in the pageant world. The accompanying conversations simply prove that there remains to be much work to be done to make sure that all types of beauty are equally celebrated and appreciated.

The larger picture

Beyond the world of pageantry, this moment reflects broader implications about the present state of diversity, equity and inclusion across industries. Beauty pageants, as cultural touchpoints, often reflect social values. The discourse around this 12 months’s winner raises broader questions about the present trajectory of diversity and inclusion; progressive initiatives that were already under attack. Is there still room for full and continued adoption of those principles, or is resistance to progress growing stronger?

Fans of popular TikTok duo Shay and Bria are ready for Ariana Grande to provide two of her biggest fans the surprise of their lives. The sisters, who are 29 and 28, have quickly turn out to be two of the Internet’s favorite sibling content creators as snippets of their lives as autistic adults are shared online.

The videos are recorded by their mother, often called Auntie D, and have gained over 44.3 million likes and the support of 2 million followers on the social media platform. Their account, MentalHealthWorld, was launched in April in order that their mother could share a kind word encouraging others to not let their life circumstances dictate how they show up and treat others in the world.

Shay and Bria have appeared in several movies; nevertheless, it wasn’t until August that they became a more integral part of Aunt D’s content. In October, their first major moment went viral when the special needs mom recorded a video of Shay showing off the stretched shoulder of the Ariana Grande shirt she was wearing.

A fan of the singer explained that her sister grabbed her clothes in the heat of the moment. “You ruined my Ariana Grande shirt,” Shay told Bria.

This post alone gained 4.6 million likes, 46,200 comments and was bookmarked 598,200 times, catapulting the trio to social media fame.

Now the family is attracting attention for a recent reason: a drastic makeover given to them by celebrity hairstylist Jonathan Wright. He surprised Shay with a makeover for her birthday, and as a bonus, Aunt D got to experience the day crammed with glamor as well.

Bria originally participated in the makeover, but she didn’t feel comfortable with others touching her hair. “All of you, Bria, didn’t allow us to touch one another. She didn’t accept it,” Wright, who showed up at the family’s home with a bouquet and gifts, said in posts published on November 12.

When the recent look was revealed, fans were shocked to see Shay sporting long black and pink tresses decorated with loose curls and a charming face befitting her special occasion.

Aunt D, who often wears her hair in a wavy ponytail, opted for a honey-brown hairstyle. “OMG they don’t look the same,” commented a delighted fan. Another response read: “Shay KNOWS she’s beautiful baby!!! Yes.

A 3rd said: “She’s bloody beautiful.”

In a separate message, Aunt D shared that Shay was also surprised with an Ariana Grande-themed birthday cake and a recent T-shirt during their trip to Los Angeles. In the comments, a follower asked, “Where is Ariana grande, now it’s your turn wya?”

Another person said: “At this point you must give her a pop-up. This girl loves you. I do know you’ve got seen these videos.” The “Thank You Next” star has yet to comment or repost any of Shay’s content, but fans are hoping that may change soon.

As a trio, the sisters and their mother even shot a video of the Big Sexi influencer jumping behind them as they crossed a pedestrian crossing. “Mommy is gone, make the most of her moment, right?!!!!

In one other place discuss in Shay and Bria’s case, many individuals wondered if their content had turn out to be exploitative. “I used to love their movies, but now I feel like my mom is doing an excessive amount of. He uses them, and I actually have a friend who has an autistic child and she said she finds these videos very strange,” we read in a single of the critical comments.

The second individual he wrote“Honestly, I feel Auntie/D’s mom should give Shay and Bria a break for a few days. They are clearly annoyed and overstimulated” in response to posts showing the sisters’ upset.

Their mother didn’t criticize doubters in the comments, and in line with one follower, she often deletes condemnatory comments left under videos. However, a video recorded in early November addressed some of the reactions. In it, Aunt D clarified that her content didn’t mock autism or her daughters.

“If you don’t live like that, you won’t know… So you’re talking about violating their privacy. No, I’m not trying to invade their privacy, you know what I’m saying. I just grab it when I can. I hear Shayanna upset and Bria upset,” she says he said.

The criticism hasn’t slowed down more content or discouraged others from supporting the family.