The Lebanese reacted with emotion and joy to the arrival of their country’s daughter, Yasmina Zeytoun, as first runner-up to the Czech, Kristina Peškova, who won the Miss World title, on Saturday evening.
Peshkova from the Czech Republic was crowned Miss World 2024, beating 111 of her colleagues who participated in the preliminary rounds.
40 of them qualified to compete for the title during the 71st session of the competition, which was held at the Geo World Convention Center in Bombay, India.
Czech model Peshkova (23 years old) was chosen Miss World after the final stage, which included 4 contestants, each of whom won the title of Miss Geographic Region.
Peshkova, who studied law and qualified for Europe, was ahead of her competitors, the finalists from Africa (represented by Botswana), America and the Caribbean (represented by Trinidad and Tobago), and Asia and Oceania (first runner-up from Lebanon).
Yasmina after Georgina
Lebanese Yasmina Zaytoun came first runner-up after she won first place among contestants from the continents of Asia and Oceania.
Zaytoun (22 years old), who wore a bright blue dress, expressed in her statement her pride in having represented Lebanon “in a beautiful way” and won the title of runner-up.
Zaytoun, who is from the town of Kfar Shuba in the south of the country, added: “I did everything in my power and conveyed our voice as Lebanese, talked about everything that was happening in Lebanon, and tried to show the world how strong and distinguished its people are.”
Zaitoun, who studied journalism and is 167 centimeters tall, said in response to a joint question from the contestants: “Growing up in Lebanon, I learned how to spread love wherever I go, and how to gain respect and stand on my feet whenever I fall.”
She added, referring to the Beirut Port explosion, which led to more than 220 deaths, 6,000 wounded, and destroyed large neighborhoods of the Lebanese capital in August 2020: “Even the largest non-nuclear explosion in history could not make us stop dreaming and achieving achievements.”
Social media networks witnessed a torrent of popular and political reactions that praised Zaytoun’s intelligence and beauty, with many messages expressing their joy at this highest ranking for a Lebanese beauty queen in the history of the competition.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, wrote on his account on the “X” platform about Zeitoun’s result: “Despite all the difficult circumstances surrounding us, the flashes of beauty remain a message of love and hope from Lebanon to the whole world.”
As for Representative Paula Yacoubian, she thanked Zeitoun, saying: “Because you carried the broken and repaired glass of Beirut to the world, just as you carry the issue of the Beirut bombing wherever you are.”
The Lebanese Minister of Tourism, Walid Nassar, told Agence France-Presse that the result achieved by Zeitoun on the day after International Women’s Day represents “a victory for every Lebanese woman who steadfastly stood, fought, and resisted, and was stronger than the difficulties and events that Lebanon faced.”
He continued: “We are proud that Yasmina holds the title of Miss Asia and first runner-up for Miss World, after (Lebanese) Georgina Rizk, Miss Universe” in 1971.
Rola Saad, producer of the Miss Lebanon ceremony, which is organized and broadcast by the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) station, said that Zaytoun “is distinguished by her strong personality, and she was prepared for the competition and her answers were good, noting that personality and general information are elements.” taken into account in the selection.
She considered that Zaitoun becoming a runner-up for Miss World “among all these countries is an important matter for Lebanon, for Lebanese women, and for all Lebanese,” as they “need something to make them happy” in the midst of the crises they are experiencing.
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