Womanthismonth.com Presenting MISS UNIVERSE 2024 Fresh from her coronation as Miss Universe Bahrain 2024, Shereen Ahmed is busy preparing for the upcoming final in Mexico later this month. In an exclusive interview with Woman This Month, she tells Farah Baig about her emotions after winning, her preparations for the upcoming pageant and how she plans to use her platform to inspire the next generation. Congratulations on being crowned Miss Universe Bahrain 2024. How do you feel about winning and what inspired you to pursue this prestigious title? Thank you! It has been an exhilarating few weeks since I found out I won the crown. I’m a little nervous for what’s to come, but ultimately excited to showcase the beauty of Bahrain’s culture and traditions to the rest of the Universe. Following my first stint in 2022, it always felt like there was unfinished business and that I could do more; however, the previous age limit of 28 years old had ended the dream of rejoining. During that time, I focused on my career as a TV presenter and found my love for pageantry through being inspired by a former Miss Universe Philippines candidate, Michelle Dee, whose journey spoke to me because she was advocacy-focused and intentional in her campaign. Then, the lifting of age limits was announced by the MU organisation, which felt like destiny was calling. What did you learn from your first experience, and what changed the second time? I assessed what went wrong with my previous performance and noted how I felt throughout it. Although I was somewhat prepared, I did not take into account the importance of training with others. So, in my second round, I reached out to have a Q&A and Personal Development coach, an online and in-person pasarela trainer, as well as professional pageant makeup artists and stylists to receive advice on the tricks of the trade. I was fortunate enough to have a network of very loving and supportive people. But above all, it was truly my mindset that needed a complete transformation. To exude grace and confidence, I needed to genuinely feel it internally. So, I listened to self-improvement podcasts, watched interviews of women I admired, and took action on the things I had been wanting to do because, as one of the pageant coaches I learned from said: “Confidence comes from certainty, and certainty comes from action.” Could you give our readers some insight into your personal and professional background? I am a 29-year-old TV host, journalist and model based between Dubai and Bahrain. I was raised by a single Filipina mom and loved growing up in Bahrain until I decided to study outside the country independently. I have a podcast called Loud Besties with my best friend, Hiedy Riyan, to help younger girls feel a sense of sisterhood as we discuss navigating life’s transitions from your 20s to your 30s. After graduating from Middlesex University Dubai with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and Media, I interned and eventually secured a full-time role at Lovin Dubai as a content writer, social media manager and presenter. I later managed Lovin Saudi and interview 74 November 2024
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