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Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel announced inclusive changes on the Miss Universe Organization during Tanner Fletcher’s spring 2024 Latest York Fashion Week show Tuesday titled “Beauty Pageant.”

The Miss Universe beauty pageant, which has been around since 1952, has now eliminated age limits for delegates over 18 years old. Previously, the pageant had an age limit of 28 years old for contestants.

“What I really like about Miss Universe is that they’re at all times out first in line, searching for ways they might be more inclusive and higher live as much as the platform that they’ve designed for us,” Gabriel exclusively told WWD. “It’s a daring group of ladies in charge over here, and you recognize what, plenty of people are likely to follow what we do — it’s nice to be a standard-bearer, and I’m proud that we get to do that.”

Gabriel, 29, is the oldest Miss Universe thus far, and joined a gaggle of models that represented a large span of ages on Fletcher’s runway so as to add visibility to the organization’s message. The policy change is effective for 2024 pageants worldwide.

“We’re thrilled to have partnered with the Miss Universe Organization on a ‘Beauty Pageant’ of our very own,” Fletcher Kasell, cofounder and inventive director of Tanner Fletcher, said in a press release. “It’s wonderful to open up the world of Tanner Fletcher to other organizations who share an analogous, uplifting and empowering vision. We’re aligned on the idea that each one people irrespective of the societal boxes they’ve been put into should act as their authentic selves and be celebrated for it.”

Gabriel initially brought up the difficulty of age in the course of the 2023 pageant’s question-and-answer segment. She recalled, “I answered an onstage query: ‘When you were going to make any changes to the organization’s rules, what would they be?’ I said to boost the age limit. Once I competed, the age limit was 28, and I used to be 28 on the time. So, my answer was that I believe we should always change this — a lady’s ability to compete at Miss Universe, or anything in life, shouldn’t be defined by her age. Age should just be a number.”

She added that she believes the message of diverse representation was abounded during her first turn at Latest York Fashion Week for spring 2024 runways, where she attended the Sixdo and Alice + Olivia shows.

“I even have noticed that there appears to be more inclusivity in relation to the runway shows. Different body types, different styles and sizes, even men walking in shows where designers are doing genderless clothing,” Gabriel said. “I believe there’s still room for improvement in relation to inclusion, but I just like the direction that it’s going.”

Progress has come swiftly for the Miss Universe Organization because the pageant’s owner Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip — a transgender businesswoman who purchased the organization for $20 million last 12 months — took the helm. In the course of the ceremony on Jan. 14, she announced “transformational leadership to be able to enhance the organization’s long-standing heritage.”

The 2023 season saw the tip of restrictions on contestants who’re married, divorced and pregnant. The following Miss Universe competition shall be held Nov. 18 in El Salvador.

One other area Gabriel said she’s going to use her role to advocate for change is sustainability in the style. “There’s still quite a bit that should be done however it’s my responsibility as Miss Universe, and even after my reign, to proceed the conversation and proceed to boost awareness on this.”

Gabriel is already doing her part for an eco-conscious fashion industry because the founding father of her namesake casualwear brand, often working with upcycled materials.

“When my role as Miss Universe is finished, I’m very excited to dive back into constructing that brand — it’s all about sustainability.”