Kathmandu : Drita Ziri of Albania was crowned Miss Earth 2023 at a glittering ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday evening, making her country the first ever to win the coveted title.

Ziri, who also won the Miss Earth Environment award, will now serve as an ambassador for environmental protection, promoting ecological awareness and sustainability projects around the world.

The competition, one of the top five beauty pageants globally, saw Miss Philippines Earth Yllana Aduana claiming the runner-up spot as Miss Earth Air. Do Thi Lan Anh from Vietnam rounded out the top three, winning the Miss Earth Water title. Thailand’s Cora Bliault secured fourth place and the Miss Earth Fire award.

A total of 84 stunning delegates from across the globe lived for the coveted crown, showcasing their environmental advocacy and passion for the planet. While Miss Nepal Earth 2023 Raina Majgaiya couldn’t secure a spot in the coveted Top 20, her impressive performance in the preliminaries garnered much praise.

The Miss Earth pageant, renowned for its focus on environmental activism, saw the finalists participate in various eco-challenges and presentations throughout the competition, making it a platform for promoting environmental causes and empowering women to be agents of change.

With Jiri taking the Miss Earth 2023 crown, the world eagerly awaits her journey as an eco-warrior queen, inspiring action and igniting environmental consciousness on a global stage.