Why the Russian Model Will Not Represent Armenia in the Miss Universe Competition

The organizers of the Miss Universe competition have clarified why they rejected the participation of Irina Zakharova, who was selected in the Miss Universe Armenia contest.

“Miss Universe” is deeply committed to values such as honesty, transparency, and fairness. As the organizers of a competition that promotes cultural diversity and the expansion of women's opportunities, we are guided by principles that ensure our representatives authentically reflect the culture, spirit, and values of their country.

After thorough review, we regret to inform that Irina Zakharova, who was selected as Miss Universe Armenia, does not meet the requirements set forth in Section 8.02 of the Miss Universe preliminary competition licensing agreement. This situation also violates our National Directors' operational handbook, which requires that the titleholder holds a valid passport from the country they represent.

Our Directors' handbook states in Section 3 that “the winner must have a valid passport issued by the country they represent.” An internal investigation has confirmed that the current titleholder was not born in Armenia, has not resided in Armenia for the majority of her life, and does not hold dual citizenship. Therefore, she is not eligible to participate in the final round of the Miss Universe competition taking place in Mexico.

However, in accordance with our values of inclusivity and fairness, the organization has decided to award the title of Miss Universe Armenia to one of the candidates who advanced to the finals. This decision reaffirms our commitment to a fair and equitable process that respects the competition's norms and ethical standards.

We urge our partners in Armenia to promptly select a new titleholder, given that the final competition will take place in less than a month. We are confident that these steps will help preserve the integrity and reputation of the Miss Universe competition.

We thank our followers and supporters for their understanding and continued support as we work together to uphold the principles that unite us all on this global platform,” the statement reads.