DUBAI: After being crowned Miss Universe Bahrain, Evlin Abdullah-Khalifa is set to be one of just two contestants from the Middle East at the Jan. 14 Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans, US. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle The 24-year-old Bahraini Russian model and pianist, who was named this year’s Miss Universe Bahrain in September, told Arab News that winning the title “completely changed” her life. “In this short time, I learned and saw so many new things. I traveled to the Philippines. I have been training there with one of the best beauty pageant trainers, and I went to the mental hospital in the Philippines,” she said. “I learned a lot of new things.” After the support she received from people in Bahrain and from her fans around the world, Abdullah-Khalifa said she is now less nervous about the US contest. “I just want to enjoy this moment and do my best to represent my country on the worldwide stage,” she said. The 24-year-old Bahraini Russian model and pianist was named this year’s Miss Universe Bahrain in September. (Supplied) Her main goal in participating in the renowned pageant is to “let the world know more about (Arabs), more about our culture,” Abdullah-Khalifa said. “I think the world should know that we — modern Arab women — can combine modern values with centuries-old traditions.” Born to a Bahraini father and a Russian mother, Abdullah-Khalifa declares herself to be an advocate for education and also seeks to raise awareness about anorexia, which she suffers from. Besides being excited about her upcoming contest, the beauty queen said she feels pressure as the only model from the Gulf region and hopes that, in time, there will be “more representatives” from Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Winning a Miss Universe title sometimes comes with online criticism, which Abdullah-Khalifa said she experienced her fair share of. However, her family and team are playing a major role in stopping her from giving these comments too much attention. “I understand those people and I am trying to forgive everyone, so it’s okay,” she said. Abdullah-Khalifa says she was inspired by Russian model Oxana Fedorova, who won the Miss Universe title in 2002. She was later inspired by Pia Wurtzbach, the Filipino beauty queen. “I remember how she looked beautiful, kind, innocent and at the same time very strong,” she said. “I wondered at that time why there weren’t Arab representatives at the competition. “At that time, one of the conditions to participate in Miss Universe was to wear a bikini, which, we can say, is not allowed in our culture. That, I think, was the problem,” explained Abdullah-Khalifa. “But just last year, finally, the first Bahraini woman Manar Dayani participated in Miss Universe with the burkini on during a swimwear competition.” That moment gave Abdullah-Khalifa goosebumps. “Even now, I am so emotional, and I am proud of this moment,” she said. “I think that was when I wished I could participate. I didn’t know how I could participate and what should I do, but it came to me by destiny I think, and my family are all proud and happy with this decision,” added the model.