Miss Universe Contestant Arrives in Israel, Tests Positive for COVID-19

The Miss Universe Organization announced on Monday that an unnamed contestant tested positive for COVID-19 on her arrival in Israel, where the pageant will be held this year, on December 12, in the Red Sea coastal city of Eilat. She was taken to a “COVID hotel” where she’ll remain in isolation while recovering from the illness. The contestant was fully vaccinated. It is not yet known whether she contracted the omicron variant of the virus. Most of the pageant’s contestants, representing 80 countries around the world, are already in the country. Virus or no virus, the show must go on.