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.
She ended her speech using sign language and singing some of the lyrics of Michael Jackson’s “Heal The World”.
Last year, protesters busted into a dance over Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us”.
Michael’s music is still used as a hymn for all oppressed and victims of injustice and message of hope.
