As-salamu alaykum - Mariam Mohamed: first Emirati to go to Miss Universe, masha'Allah
As-salamu alaykum. Mariam Mohamed is about to make history - masha'Allah - as the first Emirati chosen to represent the UAE at the Miss Universe contest. She knows the weight of it: next month she’ll travel to Thailand to stand on a very big international stage.
She remembers how she felt when she found out: really proud. “It’s an opportunity of a lifetime - and a responsibility,” she says. For now she’s juggling uni work, runway practice and the family WhatsApp, where her mum is, of course, the loudest cheerleader.
Outside the pageant world, Mariam’s new interest in camels and falcons speaks to the heritage she wants to share at the competition. She was born and raised in Sharjah and calls that upbringing one of the best things in her life. “Sharjah is the capital of education, art, culture and architecture,” she says. She loves the quieter pace there, the museums and galleries, and how Khaleeji art is everywhere around her. “I’ve always been surrounded by creativity.”
Her home is in what she calls “the new Sharjah,” about 15 minutes from Dubai, so she spends free time exploring both cities and trying new places to eat. Family is close-knit - she’s the younger of two children and her mum is, by all accounts, her number-one supporter. “If I ever doubt myself, she’s the one saying, ‘You can do it. Go for it,’” she says, and she hopes her mother can join her in Thailand.
Mariam’s first real taste of pageants came in 2022 when she entered Miss Arab World. She won Miss Arab UAE and later finished as runner-up in Egypt. Even though she didn’t win, the experience mattered: she met people from many countries and still keeps in touch with some contestants.
Before being crowned Miss Universe UAE she did an “empowerment journey” in Bali - workshops, stage practice and long days of being observed and learning. After that the contestants returned to Dubai for interviews, and at a small ceremony she was chosen.
She follows in the footsteps of Emilia Dobreva, a Kosovo-born model who represented the UAE when the country first took part last year. Mariam says she had to deal with online comments early on. “I was younger and more sensitive then,” she admits. Over time she’s learned not to give energy to unnecessary negativity. Her approach is simple: keep going and be brave enough to take the next step.
Preparation is in full swing again - runway drills, speech coaching, and studying how other people handle tough questions by watching interviews and panels, pausing and practicing her cadence so she can trim filler words. “I have to be ready for everything, especially at such a big event,” she says.
She’s excited about having a roommate in Thailand and about the busy schedule of rehearsals, media and rituals. Mostly she’s looking forward to meeting the other contestants and comparing the different paths that brought them all to the same stage.
When asked what she hopes people think when they hear “Miss Universe UAE,” she answers simply: that Emirati women can achieve great things while remaining modest and true to their values. If she were to win the crown, she plans to use the platform to highlight Emirati creative talent - designers and industry leaders - push for a kinder internet, start a fashion label and give to charity.
Does she already see herself as a queen? “Of course,” she laughs, then adds that any woman who works hard on herself, chases her dreams and lifts others up should be seen as one too.
She knows being an Emirati in a beauty pageant brings scrutiny, and that public visibility isn’t always easy. “In any field you’ll face criticism sometimes,” she says. The region’s institutions have been careful about pageants, not because women aren’t interested but because those in charge weigh what to endorse. Mariam doesn’t want women to be cast only as symbols or opponents - she wants real, balanced conversations.
That conversation is changing across the Gulf and beyond. The Miss Universe organisation has broadened its rules in recent years, and Mariam welcomes that shift - for example, allowing mothers to compete. “Why not give opportunities to every woman? We respect our modesty and our traditions,” she says, pointing to recent Gulf contestants as signs of a wider change.
Her view is straightforward: you can join any industry while holding on to your values. There shouldn’t be limiting thoughts - there’s always room to grow and room for peace. May Allah grant her ease and success on this journey - and may she represent Emirati talent and values well, insha'Allah.
https://www.thenationalnews.co