Meet the First Married Miss Universe Contestant

The Miss Universe Organization has made the pageant more inclusive by allowing married women and mothers to join the world's most prestigious beauty competition.

The first married contestant 

in Miss Universe history

But did you know that a married contestant has competed alreadu and it happened during the first Miss Universe Pageant in 1952. She was India's delegate by the name of Indrani Rahman, 22, married, and the mother of a five-year old daughter. 

Her participation caused an uproar not only because she was married but also because she was Moslem and was accompanied by her husband to the contest. Did they share the same room during the entirety of the pageant duration? 

Apparently, the organizers couldnt turn her away as rules weren't firmly in place that time. And it didnt hurt also that she was half American care of her mom. 

Although she didn't place, she went on to carve a successful career as  classical dancer of Bharata Natyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali and Odissi, which she popularised in the west, and later settled in New York in 1976. 

Later, she joined her mother Ragini Devi's company. She popularised the Indian classical dance form, Odissi during her international tours. 

Indrani had received the Padma Shri in 1969 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the performing arts and also the Taraknath Das Award.

The trailblazing woman is one prime example of how the Miss Universe Pageant becomes a stepping stone to careers outside pageantry.