World Universal is a unique organization that celebrates ALL women. They seek to provide a platform and events where all women are represented and supported. World Universal accepts ALL women and through the Universal Language of Love, seeks to lift up and empower these women, and together we can make a better world. To support this mission, World Universal works with multiple charities globally from helping women who have experienced domestic violence, to LGBTQ youth, to Cancer research.
GEQ Magazine recently caught up with Nancy-Ellen Martin, the executive director of Ms. World Universal, and here’s what went down:
What makes Ms. World Universal Unique?
A lot of pageants either divide women up into categories based on age and size, or even if they say they are inclusive, that is not represented in their titleholder, and far too many systems have rules stating that their participants must be “natural born females”. We seek to provide a platform and events where all women are represented and supported. Our events are open to women aged 25 and over of all heights, sizes, ethnic backgrounds, orientations, and identities. Your marital or parental status is also not a factor. Our new International Titleholders represent many ethnicities from around the globe, sizes 0-14, ages 27-56, 5’2-5’7 inches tall. Some are single, some are married, some are moms, some are not and one is about to welcome twin grandchildren! This is what DIVERSITY really looks like. In addition, we have also founded a sorority to be inclusive of women who are excited about our sisterhood and philanthropy, but maybe are not interested in being on stage. We are truly building a place where women can support each other and work towards common goals.
What categories do your delegates compete in?
Our delegates compete in one on one personal interviews with each judge for 5 minutes each and this is worth 40% of the score. They then participate in fitness wear with an emphasis on body positivity (25%), evening gown where we expect our delegates to bring the glamor (35%) and our finalists can earn up to an additional 10 points with their on-stage questions.
Can you tell us a little more about your titles?
Sure! At the national and international level, the highest overall title of World Universal is awarded to the delegate with the highest score regardless of age. The second highest title is the World Universal Elite, awarded to the delegate age 40+ with the highest overall score. Our 3rd title is our Ms. Global World which is awarded to our 3rd highest score regardless of age, and then finally our Ambassador title is awarded with input from all the staff, the titleholders, directors, online judges, and our panel of judges. This goes to the delegate, who through their reign has demonstrated that they are living the mission of the organization. This year at international, we decided that given everything that has happened with the pandemic, with some titleholders having held their titles for almost two years, and some newly crowned in 2021, and our international having been being postponed multiple times that we would also elevate one of our preliminary awards to a title, and this is our Spirit of Ms. World Universal. Like our Ambassador, this is someone whose passion for our mission is clear! We are so thrilled with our 2021-2022 International Court!
What is next for World Universal?
Ms. USA World Universal will be happening November 18-22 in New Orleans, Louisiana. We are also in the process of scheduling other national pageants around the globe in 2022, including our new brand Monarch International which gives opportunity to all those who identify as male, for all genders of individuals competing in the art of Drag, for non-binary people, as well as crowning for just talent. Additionally, Monarch will have a separate division for Mermaids! We are so excited about this new brand, and you will be hearing more from us in the coming months. We are also very excited that Ms. World Universal’s international will be in Sydney, AU July 16,17,18,19,20, 2022.
How can someone get involved in World Universal or Monarch International?
Check out our website at: www.worlduniveralproductions.com or find us on social media @worlduniversalproductions.
If you want to find out who the 2021 Ms. World Universal winners are then scroll down below:
Akela Douglass (Ms. World Universal 2021-2022)
Akela is a Sacramento native and graduate of California State University Sacramento with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Finance. She is currently a professional hairstylist and has created beautiful looks for numerous brides, models, hair shows, music videos, magazines, and even New York fashion week. In July 2017 she opened her own salon Akela’s Hair Studio in San Francisco, CA. She also travels throughout the country as a Brand Educator for the world-renowned Wella Company. Akela recently achieved back-to-back wins at the Beauty Envision Awards for Textured and Creative hair designs. During her reign as Ms. World Universal, she will continue to support the Pretty Ponytails Organization, which provides haircare kits for young girls in foster care and transitional housing.
Rosie Moore (Ms. World Universal Elite 2021-2022)
Rosie is a Latina of Puerto Rican and Dominican Republic descent. She was born in New York and raised in New Jersey. She now calls Florida her native home. She is a registered nurse with a Doctorate of Nurse Practice degree from Capella University. Her focus was on creating a toolkit for the neonatal intensive care unit. This would allow her to manage her nonprofit The Gift of Life, supporting parents of premature babies.
She is currently an independent nurse consultant for injured workers. When she is not working in her charity, you can find her coordinating weddings and travel as well as authoring kids and adult books. Most recently she started a podcast called Tea Time with Just Rosie Moore to support women with inspirational devotions and stories.
During her reign, she hopes to continue reaching women on a global level to encourage them and meet them where they are.
You can get to know Rosie better via her website: www.Rosiemoore27.com.
Maricelle Redona-Manzana (Ms. Global World 2021-2022)
Maricelle Heather is a first-generation Filipina-American from Hawaii. She received her master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis from Capella University in 2018 and is currently a Board Certified Behavior Analyst/License Behavior Analyst in Honolulu, Hawaii where she works with children with unique abilities. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in psychology from Northcentral University. She hopes to one day open her own Applied Behavior Analysis clinic to serve the underserved children in her community. Her platform is named Perfectly Imperfect, a scholarship foundation she founded to help the underserved around her community and in the Philippines continue their education. She hopes during her year as Ms. Global World she will be able to grow her scholarship foundation and expand to more regions of the world to encourage more children and adults to continue their educational dreams.
Asuka Kobayashi(Ms. World Universal Ambassador 2021-2022)
Asuka is from Niigata,Japan. She has been a dental and mental specialist for over 20 years and has been involved with more than 35,000 people helping them care for their minds and bodies. She has published a book about parenting, runs an online support group, and conducts workshops to support mothers and parenting. She also holds seminars at schools and medical sites to foster the richness of the mind, helping others create a place conducive to parenting and guidance consulting. Asuka is also a mother of three and their smiles brighten her world.
Maria Beall (Ms. Spirit of World Universal 2021-2022)
Maria Beall is an American College of Sports Medicine Exercise Physiologist, RYT 200 Yoga Teacher, Nutrition Consultant, Real Estate Investor, and Fitness Instructor. Maria has been in the wellness industry for 32 years and holds a degree in Community Wellness and Marketing. She is a Golden Key Honor Society member and graduated second in her class from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has mentored, trained, and taught thousands of individuals as she has changed countless lives. Maria is a Hashimoto survivor and is thriving with F.I.T.- Food, Inspiration, and Training and is a spokesperson for AARDA.org, organizing yoga classes to bring awareness to autoimmune diseases. Maria also serves on 2 boards in Richmond, Virginia, and has created a committee that participates in area clean-ups to protect the James River. She and her husband have been featured on Animal Planet, TLC, and HGTV’s House Hunters and are landlords to multiple properties. She has been married to Michael since 1987 and has 3 sons, 2 daughters in law and soon to be a grandmother to twins. When Maria is not living and teaching in Richmond, she can be found walking along the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico where she and her husband own a vacation home. Maria’s true passion is coaching women and girls to find their voice with her coaching business, Beallisma Coaching *and* encouraging her community to fight for equality and human rights with activism and advocacy.