Myanmar beauty pageant contestant pleads for international help to re-establish democracy

The beauty contest coincided with the deadliest day of the crackdown that followed the coup, which left 114 people dead

A beauty pageant contestant from Myanmar used her brief moment in the spotlight on Saturday to appeal for international help for her country, on the worst day for bloodshed since the military took power two months ago.

In the final show and coronation of Miss Grand International 2021 in Bangkok, Myanmar’s Han Lay fought back tears as she spoke about the worsening situation in Myanmar following a military coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi from power on 1 February. 

The Yangon University student began her speech by saying, “I deeply feel sorry for the people who [have] lost their lives on the street,” before she pleaded for international help to establish democracy back in Myanmar.

She added: ‘’If the situation is happening somewhere, people around the world try to find a solution and help them.”

The beauty contest coincided with the deadliest day of the crackdown that followed the coup, which left 114 people dead, Myanmar Now reported. 

Read more:

• French airstrike killed Mali civilians, claim officials
• Fire breaks out in Kenya wildlife reserve during British troop exercise
• Chinese actress issues apology after promoting controversial social media trend 
• North Korea claims it has launched ‘new type’ of tactical guided missiles

“Today in my country Myanmar, why I am doing a speech on this stage, there are so many people [who have] died,” Ms Lay continued. “More than 100 people died today.”

She added that while those on the streets in Myanmar are calling for democracy, she was using her time on the stage to do the same.

“Please help Myanmar. We need your urgent international help right now,” she said, before thanking Miss Grand for the opportunity to speak about the situation in her home country.

More than 420 people have been killed since the coup and the death toll is steadily rising as the ruling junta grows more forceful with their suppression of opposition to the military’s takeover.

Among the reported fatalities on Saturday were several children under 16 years old, including a 13-year-old girl.

On Sunday, protesters returned to the streets of Myanmar to continue their call for a return to democracy, despite Saturday’s atrocities. 

Demonstrations were held around the country, including its two biggest cities Yangon and Mandalay.

Some protests were once again met with police force. 

Additional reporting by Associated Press