Israel vying for Miss U hosting

Published on August 27, 2019 01:39 PM By TDT

A pair of Israeli producers are in talks with the organizers of the Miss Universe pageant in an effort to bring the next edition of the beauty competition to the Jewish state.

Danny Ben Naim and Assaf Belcher, who were both involved in bringing Madonna to perform at the Eurovision in Tel Aviv, have met several times with Miss Universe Organization staff both in New York and Israel.

Pageant organizers expressed interest in holding the competition in Israel, the Israel Hayom daily reported. However, Ben Naim and Belcher will likely have to clear several hurdles in order to pull off hosting the event.

Until the next coalition is formed after the 17 September elections, the government will remain in transitional mode, and the approval of a budget for such an event may be beyond its scope.

Moreover, as opposed to the Eurovision Song Contest, in which 41 countries with official ties to Israel participated, the Miss Universe pageant has over 100 countries sending a contestant, among them many Arab and Muslim countries which do not have official diplomatic ties to the Jewish state or are openly hostile.

“The intention is to hold the competition here already this year, but at the same time, the option to hold the competition here in 2020 is also being considered,” a source with knowledge of the efforts disclosed.

US President Donald Trump owned the Miss Universe Organization from 1996 to 2015. (Times of Israel)

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2019/08/27/israel-vying-for-miss-u-hosting/