Israel is preparing in full force for the 70th Miss Universe pageant, set to be held in the southernmost city of Eilat on December 12, 2021.
It was announced Wednesday that the pageant will include a performance from Israeli star Noa Kirel.
“I’m so excited and honored to be performing at Miss Universe,” Kirel said, according to Variety.
“By believing in themselves and fearlessly chasing their dreams, these women from around the world live and breathe the values of the Miss Universe Organization, and I can’t wait to share this celebratory moment with all of them on this incredible global stage.”
2 View gallery
Singer Noa Kirel with Israel's new Beauty pageant winner and its representative to the Miss Universe pageant
(Photo: Kobi Kunakas)
This year's pageant will also feature contestants from the United Arab Emirates and Morocco, two countries with which Israel normalized relations.
"Despite the challenges the COVID pandemic placed in our path, we knew how to maintain the balance between health and the economy, to bring tourism back to Israel," Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov said, Variety reported.
“We needed to create tourism anchors that will promote and present Israel to the world as a vaccination nation that invites tourists to visit. The Miss Universe pageant is without doubt an important and significant anchor of this plan.”
Israel will allow tourists who have been fully vaccinated with vaccines approved by the World Health Organization from November 1 and those who had received the Russian made Sputnik V vaccine from November 15.
The coronavirus cabinet is also expected to lift COVID restrictions on outdoor gatherings on Thursday.
The Miss Universe organization also released details on the venue for the competition.
It is a custom-built ultramodern arena which was imported from Portugal. The venue stands at a height of 16.5 meters, with an over 5,000 seat capacity.