The Miss Qazaqstan 2025 pageant will not be open to transgender contestants, according to pageant director Aizhan Ruzayeva.
In a recent social media video, Ruzayeva walked back remarks she made during a June 18 press conference. At the time, she stated that both transgender and plus-size women could participate in the beauty contest, which was themed «Freedom of Choice» for 2025.
«Absolutely everyone is welcome. Let it be transgender — it’s freedom of choice. If a girl feels that way, she can, by default, participate in the pageant. We are loyal to everyone,» Ruzayeva said at the press conference. «If a plus-size girl comes and she’s bright, charismatic and beautiful, we’ll consider her, too. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen such girls.»
However, later that evening, Ruzayeva issued a clarification, stating that only female individuals are eligible to compete.
«This information was taken out of context and does not reflect the true content of what I said,» she stated in the video. «I repeat the requirements for the contestants: girls aged 18 and up, at least 165 centimeters tall, unmarried and without children can participate in the castings and the contest. I emphasize — girls.»
The Miss Qazaqstan 2025 final will be held for the first time in the Almaty subway, at the Mukhtar Auezov metro station.
Preliminary selections have already begun in 15 cities across Kazakhstan. Organizers say the jury considers not only contestants’ appearance but also their personality, social engagement and worldview.
Miss Qazaqstan holds exclusive licenses in Kazakhstan for the world’s two largest international beauty pageants — Miss Universe (U.S.) and Miss World (U.K.). Notably, Miss Universe changed its rules in 2012 to allow transgender contestants to compete.
