YANGON, (PNA/Xinhua) — Myanmar model Khin Lapyae Zaw will compete in Miss Tourism Queen International (TQI) to be held in Xianning, China from Sept. 23 to Oct. 5.
The 18-year-old model Khin Lapyae Zaw, who is a university student majoring mathematics, was selected to represent Myanmar after winning a local photo beauty contest for Miss TQI 2013 pageant program.
This is the first time Myanmar competes in Miss TQI competition which has been held in China since 2004.
In 2012, Khin Lapyae Zaw competed in Asia New Stars Model Contest in South Korea.
“I am so delighted to compete in China as a Myanmar contestant, “she said. “I am trying my best to enhance my country’s dignity”.
“Myanmar and China already have very good and long lasting friendship and cooperation in economic and social sectors. As a model representing Myanmar, I will try my best to extend this friendship and promote cultural exchange between our two countries, ” she said.
The current Miss Tourism Queen International is Kantapat Peeradachainarin from Thailand who was crowned in 2011.
This is not the first time that Myanmar fans have flocked to the internet to vote for their national favorite.
Another Myanmar model Khin Wint Wah was chosen in the Top 20 finalist and won Miss Internet of Miss Supranational 2013 contest, which was held in Minsk, Belarus on Sept. 6.
Last year at the Miss International 2012 in Okinawa, Nang Khin Zayer won the Miss Internet and the People’s Choice award, receiving 94 percent of the total votes cast online.
At present, Myanmar is preparing to participate in Miss Universe beauty contest, one of the three largest beauty pageants in the world, to be held in November 2013 in Moscow. This is Myanmar’s participation in Miss Universe Contest after 50 years’ gap.