The next Miss Universe pageant will be held in Israel just 7 months after the last winner was crowned

• Miss Universe will return in December 2021 for the second time this year.
• The 70th annual Miss Universe competition will be held in Eliat, Israel.
• Steve Harvey – who did not appear in the May pageant – will also return as host.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Miss Universe is coming back to your TV screen sooner than you might have expected.

The Miss Universe organization announced on Tuesday that the 70th competition will take place in Eliat, Israel, in December 2021.

Andrea Meza, the current Miss Universe, was crowned in May after the competition had to be postponed for more than a year due to the ongoing pandemic.

"Being the only Miss Universe crowned during the COVID-19 pandemic has made my reign unforgettable," Meza told Insider. "I hope that the world takes the vaccine as soon as it is available so that, come December, as many people as possible can join the 70th anniversary celebration in Israel."

December's pageant will also see the return of Steve Harvey as host. Harvey – who skipped the May pageant – famously said the wrong name while announcing the winner of Miss Universe back in 2015.

Paula Shugart, the president of the Miss Universe organization, said Israel has been on the pageant's shortlist of host countries "for a number of years due to its rich history."

"As we sought a location for our 70th anniversary celebration, it became clear through our conversations with acting mayor Lankri and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism that Israel, which has done a good job containing the global pandemic, has the best resources to host Miss Universe in December," Shugart told Insider.

"We look forward to deepening our commitment to creating meaningful cultural conversation, connection, and understanding through this partnership," she added.

The Miss Universe Organization said contestants will "explore the rich history and culture of Israel" in the weeks leading up to the competition with visits to the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv.

The pageant - which features swimsuit, evening gown, and interview rounds - will air on FOX in the US.