Thai beauty queen Anntonia wins hearts as she finishes 1st runner-up
Thailand’s title hope Anntonia Porsild won the hearts of many but had to settle for first runner-up in the Miss Universe beauty pageant in El Salvador on Sunday.
It was the first time in 35 years that a Thai beauty queen had made it to the top three at the Miss Universe pageant.
Anntonia follows in the footsteps of Apasra Hongsakula, who won the title in 1965, and Porntip Nakhirunkanok, who won in 1988.
The top 20 contestants in the Miss Universe 2023 competition broke away from traditional norms, showcasing their diversity and inclusivity. Among the standout participants were a transgender woman representing Portugal, a proud plus-size woman from Nepal, and a Colombian representative — a mother — gracefully commanding the stage. This inclusiveness reflected the evolving landscape of beauty and highlighted the importance of embracing various forms of elegance and individuality.
Anntonia looked stunning in every round, and won the hearts of millions with her simplicity and elegance on stage. She broke through the pack of 20 when her name was announced among the top 10, which included participants from Spain, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Peru, Australia, the Philippines, Colombia, El Salvador, and Venezuela.
Thai pageant fans were ecstatic when Thailand was chosen among the top 5, along with Australia, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and Colombia.
Anntonia’s fairy-tale journey continued when she made it to the top three in the final round, along with the beauty queens from Australia and Nicaragua. Anntonia was posed a thought-provoking question in the final round: If she could spend a year in another woman's shoes, who would it be? Without hesitation, she expressed her admiration for Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani woman known for her advocacy of women's education.
Making a tough choice, the judges crowned Sheynnis Palacios Cornejo of Nicaragua as Miss Universe 2023. It was the first-ever Miss Universe title for Nicaragua, a momentous achievement for the Central American nation on the global stage.
Though Anntonia did not win the Miss Universe crown, her outstanding performance, her grace, poise, and positive message have become a source of pride for Thais.
