PAGEANT Circle

A week after winning the prestigious Miss Earth 2023 competition in Vietnam, Drita Ziri has returned to a heartwarming welcome in her home country Albania. Her supporters gathered with flowers and banners as she arrived wearing the new Miss Earth crown by Long Beach Pearl and the iconic sash in Tirana on Friday, December 29. Drita made history with her victory last week in Ho Chi Minh City as she became the first-ever Albanian representative to win the Miss Earth pageant. "I never thought I was going to represent Albania in Miss Earth and bring home the crown. To me, this was an impossible, unreachable, and unrealistic dream but now everything is my reality," she wrote online. "To all of my supporters from the beginning of the competition, I am very happy that I got to share every moment with you and I am very grateful for the support that I have globally received you really made my days and I hope I live up to the expectations." Drita's crowning moment:

The Miss Earth 2023 competition culminated with Albania's Drita Ziri being crowned the winner on Friday, December 22 at Van Phuc City in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Drita's victory marked a historic milestone for her country at Miss Earth as she became the first-ever Albanian woman to win the title and the third European titleholder in the pageant's 23-year history. Europe last held the crown in 2012 with the Czech Republic's Tereza Fajksová. Its first winner was Catharina Svensson of Denmark during the inaugural edition in 2001. Technically, the continent has already won four times. Bosnia and Herzegovina claimed the crown in 2002 courtesy of Džejla Glavović but she was dethroned for failing to fulfill her duties as reigning queen. She was replaced by Kenya's Winfred Omwakwe. The new Miss Earth is 18 years old from Fushë-Krujë. She is so far the youngest winner of the coveted international title. As a titleholder, Drita will advocate for the protection and preservat

Albania's Drita Ziri bested 84 other contestants to be crowned Miss Earth 2023 on Friday, December 22 at Van Phuc City in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The 18-year-old model and TV host from Fushë-Krujë made history as she became the first-ever Albanian representative to win the Miss Earth title. Yllana Marie Aduana of the Philippines, Do Thi Lan Anh of Vietnam and Cora Bliault of Thailand were crowned Miss Earth Air, Miss Earth Water, and Miss Earth Fire, respectively. Morgana Carlos of Brazil, Dilnaz Tilaeva of Kazakhstan, Noa Claus of the Netherlands, and Daria Lukonkina of Russia were in the Top 8 and were sashed as runners-up. The new Miss Earth received her crown by Long Beach Pearl from her predecessor from Korea, Mina Sue Choi. Before being appointed as Miss Earth Albania , Drita held the title Miss Shqiperia 2022 and competed in The Miss Globe 2022 where she not only finished as second runner-up but also won the Miss Bikini award. Hosted by TNA Entertainment, this year's

Deliart Association, the organizers of the annual Miss Shqiperia (Miss Albania) and The Miss Globe pageants, has been officially announced as the new owner of the license for this year's Miss Earth Albania. The Tirana-based organization has appointed Drita Ziri as Miss Earth Albania 2023 and will now go on to represent Albania at Miss Earth 2023 in Vietnam this December. No stranger to pageantry, the  18-year-old model and TV host from Fushë-Krujë was crowned Miss Shqiperia 2022 and went on to participate in The Miss Globe 2022 where she finished as second runner-up and bagged the Miss Bikini award. Road to the 23rd Miss Earth: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Shqiperia (@missshqiperia) Photos: Greta Lila / byglvisuals, Miss Shqiperia / Instagram

The representatives of Albania and Kosovo for the Miss Earth 2021 pageant have been announced. Ornella Karruku, a 23-year-old Albanian-German was named Miss Earth Albania 2021 while educator, model and activist Vonesa Alijaj clinched the Miss Earth Kosovo 2021 title. The stunning beauties won their titles in a national competition held last Friday, July 9 at Adorions Palace in Tirana. Miss Universe Albania and Kosovo were also crowned at the same glittering event. They will compete in the international Miss Earth 2021 pageant, whose date and venue are yet to be announced. Photos: Miss Earth / Facebook