Miss Morocco, Kawtar Benhalima caused a sensation during the preliminary round of the Miss Universe competition which is currently taking place in Israel.
The Miss Universe 2021 National Costume Round took place on Friday night in Eilat, Israel, and the Misses took the stage in dazzling looks.
Each woman wore a stylized interpretation of her nation’s culture and heritage, in colorful, spectacular and referential dresses, starting with the one representing the Kingdom, Kawtar Benhalima.
Kawtar Benhalima wore a dark green velvet kaftan, embroidered in gold around the hem, cuffs and on the front, similar to that worn traditionally for the henna day of a wedding.
The pearl tassels framing her face and the multiple rows of pearls around her neck represented the famous Lebsa lfasiya (which literally translates to “the full dress”) wedding dresses from Fez. An outfit signed by the talented stylist. Elle Samira Haddouchi, caftan specialist.
As a reminder, Morocco had not attended the Miss Universe pageant for 4 decades, after its first participation in the pageant in 1957, where Miss Jacqueline Dorella represented the Kingdom at the event held in California and been won by Miss Peru, Gladys Zinder.
The appointment of Benhalima comes after the withdrawal of Fatima-Zahra Khayat initially elected as Miss Morocco, who was forced to hand over her title to her first runner-up due to a sprained ankle that prevents her from competing for the title of Miss Universe Morocco.
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