Miss Universe

Miss Norway, Ida Hauan walks onstage during The 71st Miss Universe preliminary competition at New Orleans Morial Convention Center on January 11, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Image by Josh Brasted/Getty Images/AFP

Super spreader alert? Norway ditches Miss Universe over Covid-19

‘In the end, everyone got Covid-19! Congrats to all 84 winners’: One viewer said after one Miss Universe contestant tested positive.

Miss Universe

Miss Norway, Ida Hauan walks onstage during The 71st Miss Universe preliminary competition at New Orleans Morial Convention Center on January 11, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Image by Josh Brasted/Getty Images/AFP

After putting in months of preparation – and travelling all the way to New Orleans – Miss Norway’s Ida Hauan was dashed of her dreams to participate in the Miss Universe after testing positive for Covid-19.

The blonde beauty queen dropped out of the competition in the eleventh hour after organisers revealed her positive test results. But social media users are not convinced it was the right decision.

Ultimately, USA’s R’bonney has crowned the 71st Miss Universe winner. Miss Venezuela Amanda Dudamel was crowned the runner-up, and Miss Dominican Republic Andreina Martinez second runner-up.

ALSO READ: ‘Rigged’: Who tweeps think SHOULD have won Miss Universe

NORWAY DROPS OUT OF MISS UNIVERSE

In a social media statement ahead of kick-off on Saturday evening, pageant organisers shared: “Unfortunately, Miss Universe Norway @idahauan contracted Covid-19 and will no longer be competing this evening. The organisation and her fellow delegates are saddened to hear this news and are wishing her a speedy recovery.

On stage, pageant presenter Jeannie Mai echoed the announcement, adding that Miss Norway couldn’t make it “because she’s currently “ill.”

ALSO READ: Who is the new Miss Universe? 5 things to know about R’Bonney

On her own Instagram account, Miss Norway shared: “So…I was too unlucky to get Covid right before [sic] the finals.

“It breaks my heart because I have been working so hard to get where I am today. But I already starting to feel better”.

She added: “Thank you so much to everyone who thinks about me today.”

‘WHY DIDNT SHE WEAR A MASK?’

Meanwhile, social media users debated on whether Norway ditching Miss Universe was a decision the pageant had made for her.

Others questioned why she couldn’t continue competing with the aid of a face mask and social distancing.

Then there were those who were concerned about which other beauty queens had contracted Covid-19 as well.

Dimyself.now: “How is she the ONLY ONE? Won’t there be others that may be exposed too?”

Jooosefito: “How come a single candidate who has been sharing with everyone else gets COVID, and the rest don’t?”

Mossesmorales: “And all those who had contact with her in the preliminary? And her roommate?”

Gab_pgonatas: “And at the end of the show, everyone got CORONA! Congrats to the 84 winners”

Xephirox: “I’d be so mad! Poor Norway! Do five tests if you must! Or have her walk with some social distance, but don’t rob her of this”.

Theworldofcullen: “Just put a mask on her. That’s ridiculous. It’s the last night”

Landamoreharpercherie: “I think we’re over the isolation stage, don’t you? Let her compete and get on with it”