Thae Su Nyein of Myanmar. Images: Instagram/@yo_korawathairstylist, Facebook/Thae Su Nyein
Days after her controversial outburst at the Miss Grand International 2024 coronation, Myanmar’s Thae Su Nyein returned her second runner-up crown while reiterating that it’s a decision she made on her own.
In a Facebook Live on Sunday, October 27, Thae announced she’s relinquishing her crown, explaining it is due to her country “not getting what [it] deserves.”
“I am not controlled by anyone. I just make my own decision. I give back my second runner-up crown just because of we don’t get what we deserve [sic], I mean like our National Costume prize, our Country Power of the Year, not the winner crown,” she said.
“I am not blame my sisters [sic]. I love India, I love Philippines, they’re my best sisters of all the time [sic]. I don’t blame them. I’m just saying our National Costume prize and our Country Power figure, not the winner crown. I’m not taking on it,” she continued.
India’s Rachel Gupta was crowned as the reigning Miss Grand International 2024 while the Philippines’ own CJ Opiaza was named first runner-up.
Thae was referring to Miss Grand International’s National Costume and Country Power of the Year special awards. She was among the Top 10 candidates for the National Costume award, while she was up against Thailand for the Country Power of the Year plum.
Brazil’s Talita Hartmann, Ecuador’s Maria Jose Vera, and Honduras’ Yariela Garcia eventually bagged the National Costume Awards. Meanwhile, Thailand’s Malin Chara-anan was named the Country Power of the Year winner.
‘Everyone is fighting for Myanmar’
Thae stated that her Miss Grand International 2024 stint was meant to represent Myanmar and that she did her best. She also claimed that the National Costume and Country Power of the Year awards were the results of her countrymen “putting effort” into them.
“All of the people in this country are fighting together. It’s like in this competition, the representative of Myanmar is only me but everyone is fighting for Myanmar, for that night,” she said. “For the National Costume, the whole country put their effort on that… We just hope for the National Costume and Country Power of the Year.”
“You guys can see on Facebook, Instagram, in every account who won. I’m not attacking any competitor. I’m just saying for my people. My people put effort in it,” claimed Thae.
The 18-year-old beauty queen then explained that her controversial outburst was because of her feeling sorry for her countrymen. “A lot of Myanmar flags over there, I can see from the stage. A lot of my Burmese people are crying.”
“How can I stay happy with that crown? So I started crying because I feel sorry for them,” she continued. “I feel sad for them, not because I didn’t get the winner crown. I’m not fighting for the winner crown. I’m fighting for my country. I’m just competing to show what Burmese people can do.”
Thae clarified that her country’s national director Htoo Ant Lwin came to her aid because she wasn’t feeling well after the post-coronation shoot. She then touched on her age, saying her Miss Grand International 2024 stint was meant to empower those who “have the same age as her” to be able to do anything.
“After the sponsorship photo shoot, my national director saw me with like I nearly blacked out and fell down [sic]… my whole health just [not] right,” she said.
“There are [a lot] of my fans in Myanmar who [have the same age] as me, they’re all cheering up [for] me because every age can gather leadership… so why don’t I get the crown, they feel like they just lost their hope,” she further added.
A day after Thae’s statement, the social media platforms of Miss Grand International announced the revocation of Thae’s second runner-up title on Monday, October 28, citing the Burmese beauty queen’s “inappropriate behavior.”
“The Miss Grand International organization has decided to revoke the title of second runner-up from Miss Grand Myanmar 2024 Thae Su Nyein due to inappropriate behavior and actions that violated several regulations. The announcement is made for your information,” its statement read.
Before its announcement, the Thai-based pageant had removed Thae from its post-coronation activities and promotional materials on social media. It remains unknown if someone will take Thae’s place.