Miss Grand International imposes ‘lifetime ban’ on Myanmar national director

Miss Grand International Pres. Nawat Itsaragrisil (center) is embroiled in yet another controversy between Myanmar National Director Htoo Ant Lwin (left) and Miss Grand Myanmar Than Su Nyein./FACEBOOK PHOTOS, HTOO ANT LWIN, NAWAT ITSARAGRISIL, THAN SU NYEIN

The Miss Grand International pageant’s drama with Myanmar continues even after Thae Su Nyein officially rejected her second runner-up placement from the recently-concluded staging of the global tilt in Thailand.

And while the international organization has officially accepted Than’s decision, the Miss Grand International pageant has also imposed a “lifetime ban” on her national director Htoo Ant Lwin for “lack of sportsmanship and business credibility.”

Htoo was seen removing Than’s tiara from her head, and also took away her sash as second runner-up on the Miss Grand International 2024 coronation night stage at the MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand, after the show on Friday night, Oct. 26.

India’s Rachel Gupta scored her country’s first “golden crown” in the competition, while the Philippines’ Christine Juliane Opiaza finished second. Than, on social media, said that she has no beef with the two ladies, and that she was weeping for her countrymen who were expecting her to bring home the national costume prize and give Myanmar the distinction for “Country Power of the Year.”

Three delegates topped the national costume contest, determined through online votes, and they were Brazil’s Talita Hartmann, Ecuador’s Maria Jose Vera, and Honduras’ Yariela Garcia. Thailand took home the “Country Power of the Year” recognition.

Htoo had earlier accused Miss Grand International Pres. Nawat Itsaragrisil of offering the crown for a prize, worth $25,000, and that the Thai pageant official had accepted money from Indonesian pageant officers.

Itsaragrisil vehemently denied the allegation, and dismissed Htoo’s pronouncements as “ridiculous.” Pageant fans from Myanmar have been aggressively parroting Htoo’s accusations online, while saying that the Miss Grand International pageant is a “cooking show.”

At a press conference held at Movenpick Sukhimvit 23 in Bangkok, Itsaragrisil asked, “What makes [Thae] so delusional?”

He added: “If she wants first place and must have it, I suggest she create her own pageant so she can win every title. Someone like you shouldn’t participate in anything competitive or challenging others. You should stay in your own imaginary, fantasy, virtual world.”

The recently-concluded competition was the 12th staging of the Bangkok-based Miss Grand International pageant. No Filipino woman has ever brought home the title. Myanmar has also never posted a victory.