Ayliz Duman crowned Miss Universe Türkiye 2024: Controversy, beauty, confidence

Ayliz Duman won the Miss Universe Türkiye 2024 pageant in a competition held in Istanbul, securing her place to represent Türkiye at the 73rd Miss Universe contest in Mexico City on Nov. 16, 2024.

Born in Germany, the 20-year-old beauty queen will compete at Arena CDMX, where contestants from around the world will participate.

How Ayliz Duman became Miss Universe Türkiye 2024

Duman’s victory at Miss Universe Türkiye came after a competitive event at the Sofitel Hotel in Istanbul, organized by Daman Model Management under the leadership of Shakir Sela.

Ayliz Duman, standing 5,74 feet (1.75 meters) tall, captured attention with her confidence and beauty. “It’s an incredible honor to represent Türkiye at Miss Universe,” Duman said after her victory.

Her journey to Miss Universe comes after she competed against four other finalists: Ilayda Anik, who placed second, Sude Alkan in third, followed by Ezgi Yalcinn and Menekse Aras. The beauty competition saw all contestants perform impressively, but Duman’s performance stood out.

Duman will now be representing Türkiye in Mexico City, in one of the most globally recognized beauty contests. The Miss Universe competition, broadcast to millions of viewers, is known for emphasizing confidence and beauty. Duman’s fluency in both English and German positions her to reach a wide range of international viewers.

Reactions to winners of Miss Universe vs Miss World Türkiye

Ayliz Duman’s win follows the controversy surrounding the Miss Türkiye 2024 competition in September. Idil Bilgen, a doctor and the winner of that competition, was criticized online for not fitting traditional beauty standards.

The bullying ignited debates across Türkiye about how beauty is perceived in such competitions. In response to the criticism, Bilgen said, “I represent the modern Turkish woman and am proud of it.”

However, some social media users speculated that Ayliz’s appearance might be enhanced through cosmetic procedures, with comments like:

• “Just like everyone who’s had cosmetic surgery” and “From her eyes to her nose and chin, everything is fake.”
• One user remarked, “She’s very ordinary; seven out of ten girls on the street look like this.”
• Others defended her, saying, “So what if she’s had cosmetic surgery? Is there a rule against it? Is she beautiful? Yes, she is.”
• Another user expressed disbelief stating, “What looks fake? Apart from a little filler in her lips, I don’t see anything. Finally, we see a gorgeous girl on this platform.”

These comments reflect the broader challenges women face in beauty competitions – Idil Bilgen was criticized for not fitting conventional standards, while Ayliz faces scrutiny for being perceived as “too perfect” or too enhanced.

Türkiye at Miss Universe 2024: What lies ahead

Ayliz Duman will face contestants from over 80 countries at the Miss Universe competition, where the event’s focus remains on beauty and self-assurance. With segments like the national costume showcase, evening gown, and final question and answer session, the competition will put Duman’s skills to the test.

The Miss Universe competition is distinct from Miss World, which emphasizes charitable causes under the “Beauty with a Purpose” motto.

However, both pageants offer contestants a chance to represent their countries and engage with global audiences. Ayliz Duman will be Türkiye’s voice on an international stage, and her journey has just begun.

The Miss Universe competition will take place on Nov. 16, 2024, in Mexico City.