Miss Grand International 2018
Miss Grand International 2018 was the sixth edition of the annual international beauty pageant organized by Miss Grand International Public Company Limited, held on October 25, 2018, at the One Entertainment Park in Yangon, Myanmar.[1] The event featured 75 contestants from countries and territories around the world competing in various rounds, including swimsuit, evening gown, and question-and-answer segments, with the pageant emphasizing themes of global peace and anti-war advocacy.[2] Clara Sosa of Paraguay was crowned Miss Grand International 2018 by the outgoing titleholder, María José Lora of Peru, marking the first win for Paraguay in the pageant's history.[3] In a dramatic moment immediately following the announcement, Sosa collapsed on stage from overwhelming excitement while holding hands with the first runner-up but quickly recovered with assistance from organizers and completed her victory walk.[4] The top five placements included first runner-up Meenakshi Chaudhary of India, second runner-up Nadia Purwoko of Indonesia, third runner-up Nicole Marie Colón of Puerto Rico, and fourth runner-up Haruka Oda of Japan.[5][6] The pageant, presented by Filipino actor Xian Lim and broadcast live on various platforms, drew international attention not only for its competitive outcomes but also for the viral incident involving Sosa's faint, which highlighted the high emotional stakes of the competition.[7] During her reign, Sosa represented the organization at global events, promoting its core message of peace until she was succeeded by Valentina Figuera of Venezuela in 2019.[3]Background
Date and Venue
The grand finale of Miss Grand International 2018 took place on October 25, 2018, at The One Entertainment Park in Yangon, Myanmar.[8] This indoor entertainment complex served as the primary venue, configured with a stadium-style stage setup to accommodate a live audience and facilitate international broadcast of the event.[9] Earlier pageant activities included the welcome ceremony and press conference on October 8, 2018, held at Karaweik Palace on Kandawgyi Lake in Yangon.[10] The event week spanned from October 5 to 25, allowing contestants to engage in various logistical preparations in the host city. Contestants arrived via Yangon International Airport, where they received official welcomes from local organizers.[11] They were accommodated at the Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon, which hosted orientation sessions and preliminary interviews during the competition period.[12]Selection of Participants
The selection process for Miss Grand International 2018 required contestants to be unmarried women aged 18 to 27 from participating countries and territories.[13] Candidates were typically required to meet additional criteria, such as being of good moral character and possessing the ability to represent their nation effectively, though specific health and educational standards were not publicly detailed for that edition.[14] Each participating country or territory operated under a national franchise of the Miss Grand International organization, which was responsible for nominating one representative. These franchises, licensed by the international body, handled local recruitment and ensured alignment with the pageant's standards. In cases where a national pageant was not feasible, direct appointments were made, often to runners-up from other major beauty competitions or through targeted castings.[15] The application and screening process began with submissions to the national franchise, including photographs, personal statements, and sometimes preliminary interviews to assess suitability. Approved nominees then underwent final vetting by the Miss Grand International organization, which evaluated their overall qualifications holistically, focusing on the "4 B's" (Body, Beauty, Brain, and Business) to ensure a well-rounded competitor. This international approval step confirmed eligibility and preparedness before travel arrangements.[14] A total of 76 contestants competed in the 2018 edition, representing diverse nations and territories.[13] National selections occurred progressively throughout 2018, with many franchises hosting pageants in the first half of the year to allow sufficient preparation time leading up to the international event in October. This timeline enabled countries to build momentum through local media coverage and training programs for their delegates.[16]Host Country and Organization
The Miss Grand International 2018 pageant was hosted in Myanmar, with the selection announced on December 30, 2017, marking the first time the event was held in the country and only the second in Southeast Asia following the 2017 edition in Vietnam. This decision came after prior installments in Thailand from 2013 to 2015 and the United States in 2016, reflecting the pageant's expansion across diverse international locations. The sixth edition of the annual competition continued to emphasize its core "Stop the War and Violence" campaign, promoting global peace and anti-war advocacy through contestant activities and messaging. The event was organized by Miss Grand International PCL (MGI PCL), a Thailand-based company founded in 2013 by Nawat Itsaragrisil, who serves as its president and oversees the pageant's operations, including international franchising and production. MGI PCL managed the overall coordination, from participant selection to broadcast arrangements, leveraging its experience in staging high-profile beauty events to ensure seamless execution in a new host nation. Myanmar was selected partly due to its burgeoning tourism sector, which saw increased international arrivals in the years leading up to 2018, and the robust event infrastructure available in Yangon, the commercial hub equipped with modern venues and logistics facilities suitable for large-scale gatherings. A key factor was the strategic partnership with local promoters, which facilitated on-ground arrangements such as transportation, accommodations, and promotional tours to sites like Kawthaung for the swimsuit competition, explicitly aimed at showcasing regional attractions to a global audience. Local support was bolstered by collaborations with Myanmar's tourism authorities and event partners, who handled logistics including security, venue setup, and cultural integrations to align with the pageant's peace-focused theme while highlighting the host country's hospitality and heritage. These partnerships ensured compliance with international standards and contributed to the event's smooth delivery, drawing participants from over 70 countries to Yangon.Results
Placements
Clara Sosa of Paraguay was crowned Miss Grand International 2018 on October 25, 2018, at the grand finale held in Yangon, Myanmar, by the outgoing titleholder María José Lora of Peru.[17][7] In a notable moment during the coronation, Sosa briefly collapsed on stage due to overwhelming emotion immediately after being announced as the winner, but quickly recovered with assistance from organizers and fellow contestants.[4][18] The runners-up were Meenakshi Chaudhary of India as 1st Runner-Up, Nadia Purwoko of Indonesia as 2nd Runner-Up, Nicole Marie Colón Rivera of Puerto Rico as 3rd Runner-Up, and Haruka Oda of Japan as 4th Runner-Up.[17] Sosa's reign lasted until October 25, 2019, when she crowned her successor, Valentina Figuera of Venezuela, at Miss Grand International 2019.[19] The pageant advanced 21 semi-finalists, consisting of the top 20 selected through preliminary competitions plus one via the Miss Popular Vote, who competed in swimsuit, evening gown, and question-and-answer segments to determine the final placements.[17] The full list of semi-finalists is as follows:| Country/Territory | Delegate |
|---|---|
| Australia | Kimberly Gundani |
| Brazil | Gabrielle Vilela |
| Costa Rica | Nicole Menayo |
| Cuba | Gladys Carredeguas |
| Dominican Republic | Clara Mayte Brito Medina |
| India | Meenakshi Chaudhary |
| Indonesia | Nadia Purwoko |
| Japan | Haruka Oda |
| Kazakhstan | Aim Isengalieva |
| Mexico | Lezly Díaz |
| New Zealand | Hayley Robinson |
| Paraguay | Clara Sosa |
| Peru | Andrea Moberg Tobies |
| Puerto Rico | Nicole Marie Colón Rivera |
| Russia | Talia Aybedullina |
| Spain | Patricia López Verdes |
| Sri Lanka | Pawani Vithanage |
| Sweden | Hanna Louise Haag |
| Thailand | Moss Namoey Chanaphan |
| Venezuela | Biliannis Álvarez |
| Vietnam (Miss Popular Vote) | Bùi Phương Nga |
Special Awards
During the Miss Grand International 2018 pageant, several special awards were presented to honor contestants' excellence in specific categories, distinct from the main rankings. These non-ranking accolades were determined through preliminary judging rounds and public input where applicable, focusing on attributes like creativity, poise, and digital interaction. They were announced across pre-finale events and the grand finale on October 25, 2018, at the One Entertainment Park in Yangon, Myanmar.[17][20] The Best National Costume award, which celebrates innovative designs reflecting cultural heritage, was won by Andrea Moberg Tobies representing Peru. This category's selection process began with a Top 20 announcement on October 17, 2018, derived from preliminary evaluations, followed by a Top 10 narrowed by five public-voted entries and five judges' picks, with the final winner revealed at the finale.[20][21]| Category | Winner | Country | Key Judging Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best National Costume | Andrea Moberg Tobies | Peru | Creativity and cultural representation[20][21] |
| Best Evening Gown | Nam-oey Chanaphan (Moss) | Thailand | Poise and elegance in formal wear[17] |
| Best in Swimsuit | Gladys Carredeguas | Cuba | Confidence and physique during swimsuit parade[17] |
| Best in Social Media | Nadia Purwoko | Indonesia | Online engagement and popularity metrics[17] |