Miss Thailand has officially been crowned the winner of Miss International 2019 for the first time in the pageant’s history.
Sireethorn “Bint” Leearamwat, a 25-year-old pharmacist and model, was announced the new Miss International 2019 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on Tuesday, according to Rappler.
The Miss International pageant, which held its first competition in Long Beach, California in 1960, is one of the Big Four International beauty pageants along with Miss World, Miss Universe and Miss Earth, Mashable reported.
This is the first time Thailand has ever won the Miss International competition. It also marks the country’s third time winning one of the Big Four pageants. Thailand’s Apasra Hongsakula won Miss Universe 1965 and Bui Simon won the same title in 1988.
“I didn’t expect to be here,” Sireethorn said after receiving the crown. “So I’m very proud that I can be here. I’m so proud of myself and so proud of my team and so proud of my nation.”
During the speech portion of the pageant, finalists were given 45 seconds to explain why they should be given the crown. Sireethorn spoke about the time when many people criticized her after she won the Miss Thailand title.
“I dared to dream to become a beauty queen, even if there’s nothing really related to my career as [a] pharmacist. I used critic as power to make myself improve to be the best representative and make my nation proud,” she said.
“So the definition of ‘cheer all women’ for me is how to encourage, support, and inspire all women, all around the world to make their dreams come true and make a great thing to our world.”
Feature Image via @bintsireethorn
