In a stunning triumph, Drita Ziri of Albania emerged victorious at the Miss Earth 2023 pageant, surpassing 84 other contestants in the final round held in Ho Chi Minh City last Friday.
Ziri, a 1.73-meter-tall Tourism Management student and TV host, couldn't contain her emotions as she covered her face in disbelief when her name was announced as the winner. The audience, along with predictions from the Missosology beauty pageant website, had foreseen her taking the coveted title.
Previously the second runner-up at the Miss Globe 2022 contest, Ziri is recognized for her active involvement in social activities, particularly her contribution to a breast cancer awareness campaign.
The other titleholders include Yllana Marie Aduan from the Philippines as Miss Air, Do Thi Lan Anh from Vietnam as Miss Water, and Cora Blialt from Thailand as Miss Fire – equivalent to the first, second, and third runners-up, respectively.
The final night of the pageant, lasting three hours, was expertly hosted by British MC James Deakin and Miss Vietnam 2016 runner-up Huynh Thi Thuy Dung. Musical performances by Barbadian singer Shontelle and Vietnamese artists Mono, Sara Luu, Jaykii, and Johnny Duong added to the excitement of the evening.
The Miss Earth 2023 pageant, held in Vietnam since the end of November, featured various activities in Ho Chi Minh City, with the semi-finals taking place in Da Lat on December 16 before the crowning ceremony. This marks the second time Vietnam has hosted the Miss Earth pageant, with the first being in the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa in 2010.
