The Philippines’ Yllana Marie Aduana was named Miss Earth Air 2023 on Friday night, just missing the top prize in the pageant won by model and television host Drita Ziri of Albania in the grand coronation night in Vạn Phúc City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Aside from claiming the second-highest honor, Aduana also bagged the Miss Bikini special award, while local bet Đỗ Thị Lan Anh and Thailand’s Cora Bliaut were named Miss Earth Water 2023 and Miss Earth Fire 2023, respectively.
Ziri edged out 84 other candidates from around the globe to clinch the coveted Miss Earth 2023 crown, making her the first Albanian to win a major beauty pageant.
The 18-year-old was crowned by last year’s winner Mina Sue Choi of South Korea.
In the final Q&A, the Top 4 delegates were asked: “An official at the recent climate conference was quoted as saying there is no science behind the phaseout of fossil fuels. Do you agree with this? Why or why not?” Nickie Wang and Eton Concepcion Ziri said that much of what’s happening to our planet – climate change included – stems from people’s lack of awareness.
“I believe if we can plant the seed of love, we are going to carry all the other values we need to have…persistency, consistency, determination, and actually passion for caring for our Earth. I have a passion for our advocacy. That’s why I’m right here in front of you today,” she said.
The teen beauty queen is no stranger to the pageant world. Last year, she won the Miss Shqiperia 2022 title. She also participated in Miss Globe 2022 where she finished as second runner-up.
Rounding out the Top 8 were Miss Brazil Morgana Carlos, Miss Kazakhstan Dilnaz Tilaeva, Miss Netherlands Noa Claus, and Miss Russia Daria Lukonkina.
Miss Earth, now in its 22nd edition, is an annual international competition held to celebrate “the many beautiful and varied forms of fauna, and to further promote the preservation and conservation of our planet.”