Luciana Fuster, a 23-year-old internet star from Peru, was crowned Miss Grand International 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on October 25. She beat 68 other candidates from around the world to win the coveted title.
How she won the crown
Luciana impressed the judges and the audience with her beauty, intelligence, and charisma throughout the competition. She aced the swimsuit, evening gown, and speech rounds, where she spoke about her advocacy for ending violence against women and children.
In the final question and answer round, she was asked what she would do if she had the power to change one thing in the world. She answered that she would change people’s minds and hearts to make them more compassionate and empathetic towards others.
She also said that she would use her platform as Miss Grand International to spread awareness and education about the issues that affect women and children, such as domestic violence, human trafficking, and child labor.
Luciana received the crown from her predecessor, Isabella Menin of Brazil, who won the title in 2022. She also received a cash prize of $40,000 and a luxury apartment in Bangkok, Thailand, where the Miss Grand International organization is based.
Who are the runners-up
The first runner-up was Ni Ni Lin Eain of Myanmar, who also won the Best in Evening Gown award. She received a cash prize of $10,000 and a trophy.
The second runner-up was Maria Jose Salazar of Colombia, who also won the Best in Swimsuit award. She received a cash prize of $5,000 and a trophy.
The third runner-up was Janelle Tee of the Philippines, who also won the Best in Social Media award. She received a cash prize of $3,000 and a trophy.
The fourth runner-up was Nana Akua Antwiwaa of Ghana, who also won the Grand Voice award. She received a cash prize of $2,000 and a trophy.
What is Miss Grand International
Miss Grand International is an annual beauty pageant that started in 2013. Its motto is “Stop the War and Violence”. It aims to promote peace and goodwill among nations and to empower women to be agents of change in their communities.
The pageant is organized by Nawat Itsaragrisil, a Thai TV producer and businessman. It is one of the most prestigious and popular pageants in the world, with millions of fans and followers on social media.
The pageant is held in different countries every year, such as Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Venezuela. The next edition will be held in 2024 in Peru, where Luciana will pass on her crown to her successor.