Miss Egypt 2005, Mariam George, will travel to Chang Hai China to represent Egypt in the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant, featuring 60 participants from around the world.
Mariam stated that she will return from China in about a month, and will then decide on her plans as Miss Egypt at home.
According the London based Elaph, Mariam, at just 18, is a business administration major at the Modern Academy in Egypt.
During a grand celebration at the Egyptian Media Production City, former Miss Egypt 2004 Hiba Al Sweisi took off her crown and placed it on the head Mariam, bequeathing her the title.
During the pageant, four runner-ups were chosen among twelve contestants.
Last year, when Hiba Al Seesi was crowned Miss Egypt 2004, her two runner-ups were sisters Samah Adel and Dina Adel. At the time, Hiba, chosen among 16 participants, was a second-year law student.
Contestants in the competition are between the ages of 17 to 27 years old, and must have Egyptian citizenship. All contestants are single, pursing an education, and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
The event was criticized for bucking social and religious principles, and viewed as an insult to women. Critics claimed that the pageant makes a mockery out of females as they display themselves for people to judge them according to their looks.
