Zoi Asoumanaki from Crete was among the 15 most beautiful women in the world at the “Miss International” competition held in Japan.
The brunette, who won the “Miss Crete” title in 2021, won a place among the top 15, the only European to do so. She appeared on stage wearing a traditional costume from the Cretan region of Sfakia.
The beautiful woman from Crete started modeling in 2021
The 21-year-old has studied dietetics and comes from the city of Rethymno. This year, in fact, she got the title of “carnival queen” at the city’s carnival.
In a recent interview, she stated that her modeling career began in 2021, with the “Miss Crete” pageants. She has also been crowned “Miss Greece 2022.”
Miss International is a Japan-based international major beauty pageant organized by the International Culture Association.
First held in 1960, it is the fourth-largest pageant in the world in terms of the number of national winners participating in the international contest.
Along with Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss Earth, the pageant is one of the Big Four international beauty pageants.
The Miss International Organization and the brand are currently owned (since 1968), along with Miss International Japan, by the International Cultural Association and Miss Paris Group.
The current Miss International is Andrea Rubio of Venezuela, who was crowned at the Miss International 2023 pageant on 26 October 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.
Controversies over beauty pageants
The pageant advocacy is to achieve a world where women can live with positivity, inner strength and individuality.
The slogan of Miss International is to “correct understanding of Japan in the international community” and “the realization of world peace through mutual understanding”. It has also recently adapted the slogan “Cheer All Women”.
Contestants were judged by a panel of judges who assess various factors, including physical appearance, stage presence, talent, and their responses to interview questions.
Beauty pageants have faced criticism and controversy over the years. One of the most common criticisms of beauty pageants is that they objectify women and reduce their value to their physical appearance. Critics argue that these competitions place undue emphasis on looks and perpetuate harmful and unrealistic beauty standards.
Critics also contend that beauty pageants often reinforce traditional gender stereotypes by promoting the idea that a woman’s worth is primarily determined by her appearance, poise, and charm. This, they argue, can contribute to the societal pressure on women to conform to these ideals.
Others believe they can empower women by providing platforms for personal development, advocacy, and scholarship opportunities.
The relevance of beauty pageants has evolved over time. While they remain popular in many places, they have also adapted to changing social norms by emphasizing qualities beyond physical appearance, such as intelligence, social awareness, and talent.
Related: The First Ancient Greek Beauty Pageant
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