By | Flor Leano
Beauty queens walk with oozing confidence not just because of their beauty but also for their pride of showing the world that they can achieve their dreams no matter how illusive these would be. Women look up to them because they show them that giving up is not the best option in achieving dreams. Some tried their luck twice or even thrice before they were crowned like in the case of Pia Wurtzbach who joined in 2013, 2014 and 2015 — and finally won the title in her third try. She went on to become the third Filipina to win Miss Universe 2015, after Gloria Diaz in 1969 and Margie Moran in 1973.
Here are some of the queens around the world and their feats that make them quintessential empowered beauties making them sources of inspiration.
Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu
Harnaaz Sandhu, the reigning Miss Universe 2021 revealed in an interview with People Magazine that she is being bullied for her weight gain. Online observers think that her weight gain does not fit the image of a beauty queen as most expect the beauty queen to be slim all the time. Acting as a true queen, she confronts the issue with courage and composure. In an interview with People Magazine, she said: “I was bullied for gaining weight.”It was kind of uncomfortable and really surprising for me to see how people started having their opinions, which should not really matter. It’s not about how you look, it’s about who you are from inside and how you treat people and what you believe in.”Notwithstanding the criticisms she has been experiencing, Harnaaz recently attended the New York Fashion Week (NYFW) 2022. Looking confident and gorgeous in a shimmering figure-hugging mini-dress, she stole the spotlight and showed that she is the worthy queen in whatever shape she is in.
Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez
Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez is a proud member of the LGBT community. She made history as the first openly bisexual who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines and finished as a Top 5 finalist in Miss Universe 2021. She continues to be a source of inspiration for women especially when she has finally finished college with a degree in mass communication. The beauty queen proudly marched with her fellow graduates under the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR) Expanded Tertiary Education, Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), an educational assessment program that recognizes, accredits and gives equivalencies to knowledge and skills gained from relevant work. Gomez was also named Outstanding Graduate for AB Mass Communication. In her graduation speech she said: “I implore you to follow your heart and listen to your mind, to explore this Earth, not seeking paths but instead making your own. Form bonds with the world, learn from the unfamiliar and try the road less traveled. Take your time.”
Top 20 Miss Grand International 2020 Thaw Nandar Aung (a.ka Han Lay)
Thaw Nandar Aung better known as Han Lay is a pro-democracy beauty queen who was never afraid to talk about the condition of Myanmar, her beloved country. Han openly criticizes the Burmese military junta which has killed more than 1000 Myanmar citizens. In Myanmar, critics, including actors and other celebrities, have been arrested on charges that carry penalties ranging from three years’ imprisonment to death. Even knowing that she will be persecuted if she speaks against the military junta, her speech at Miss Grand International 2020 made people understand the dark scenario in her country and asked the international community to support her country and help save it from the atrocities of the military junta. She also said: “Every citizen of the world wants prosperity in their country and the peaceful environment. In doing so, the leaders involved should not use their power and selfishness to uprise.” Her speech angered those in power in her country and fearing arrest, Han took refuge in Thailand in 2021 and recently, she hit the headlines again when she was denied re-entry into Thailand after visiting Vietnam. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees assisted her and has safely sought asylum in Canada.
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray
Everyone feels and witnesses the devastating effects of climate change. Empowered beauties are among those who intensely campaign for environmental protection like Catriona Gray. She put sustainable fashion into the limelight when she wore a fab dress made from recycled polyurethane plastic bottles which were exquisitely crafted into roses. Study 34 defines sustainable fashion as: garments that have been made in a way that is mindful of the many environmental issues the fashion industry touches upon. In her Instagram post, she expressed awesome admiration on how the plastic bottles became sculptural masterpieces. As usual, she became the talk of the town when she wore this exquisite Jaggy Glarino creation during the Vogue Philippines launch. With her fashion mantra of “Sustainability but make it Vogue!”, she made everyone understand that even the fashion industry can help in saving the environment with the use of recycled materials and creativity.
