DUBAI: Lebanon’s Yasmina Zaytoun, who was named first runner-up at the Miss World 2024 ceremony in India and is now Miss World Asia, says she is over the moon now that all her “hard work has paid off.”
In her role as Miss World Asia, Zaytoun will travel to various countries alongside the Miss World title winner Krystyna Pyszkova along with the other Miss World continental winners: Miss World Oceana Kristena Wright, Miss World Africa Lesego Chombo, Miss World Europe Jessica Ashley, Miss World Americas Leticia Frota and Miss World Caribbean Ache Abrahams.
The continental winners are currently in Mauritius with the Miss World organization and Zaytoun spoke to Arab News from the sandy shores of the island nation.
Zaytoun said that her biggest reward was being able to do something for Lebanon. “I made everyone say ‘Lebanon,’ and that was a reward for me,” the 21-year-old said.
“I feel so proud and happy that we made it and that I spoke from my heart for all the vulnerable people. I’ve shared so many important messages, such as the Beirut blast, women’s rights, children’s rights and the wars that are going on, and I’m so proud that I’ve had the opportunity to speak up and be there for my people and for Arab women.
“This is the first time in history that an Arab woman becomes a first runner-up of Miss World, and that is an achievement,” Zaytoun said.
Lebanese Yasmina Zaytoun attends in the grand finale of the 71st Miss World pageant at Jio World Convention Centre, in Mumbai, on March 9. (AFP)
During last Saturday’s ceremony, Czech Republic’s Krystyna Pyszkova was crowned the winner at the event in Mumbai, which saw home favorite and Indian contestant Sini Shetty only make it to the top eight.
Fresh off her win from last weekend, Zaytoun, who is from Kfarchouba, a village in southern Lebanon, said that her biggest lesson from the Miss World pageant experience is that winning is a waiting game.
“My biggest learning is that you will win — not immediately — but definitely win. I have now a big experience, a huge experience from school because I met so many empowering and inspiring women from all around the world and had the opportunity to be with them, to talk with them, to share so many stories with them. And I will continue doing what I started: making Lebanon proud,” she said.
Talking about her challenges, Zaytoun said: “The hardest part and the most challenging part was to stay mentally strong because it’s three weeks of challenges and competitions. We go through so many challenges and so many ups and downs. So, to stay mentally focused and mentally strong was a bit hard, but, thank God, I did it. I was so strong during the final line. I felt like I have so much power inside me. And I was so happy with that.”
Zaytoun also shared a message for young girls and women around the world who want to take part in beauty pageants.
“For every girl who would like to take part in a beauty pageant, I want to tell her that, ‘don’t be scared and be you.’ Because it’s hard when people judge beauty pageant and say that it is all about physical appearance, which is wrong because it’s more than that,” she said.
“It is something inside you, which is having a purpose of being strong and being confident. To every girl who wants to work on yourself, work on each and every side of your personality to be able to handle all of this and to be strong enough to face so many challenges.”
