“I still get very emotional whenever I look back at the Miss Universe competition and see how far I’ve come, but overall, everything I do and every day that comes towards me is always an exciting experience.”
Anntonia Porsild, who came second in Miss Universe 2023, looked back on her favorite moments in the competition in El Salvador in November. Even though three months have passed, the Thai-Danish beauty queen still feels like the whole experience on the Miss Universe stage is unbelievable to her and she treasures every moment as if it were.
For many Thais, the final night, when she was named the runner up, was a memorable night but, for Anntonia, it was also the national costume competition, when she dressed as Phra Mae Thorani, The Goddess of Nature in Buddhist mythology. That particular round, she says, was when she felt most anxious.
“I always get very emotional about the national costume round, because it’s an opportunity for each country to really display what their country has to offer; from the culture, the history, to everything that it holds. So, because I feel so connected with my own culture, I felt like there was more pressure for me to succeed and to do that in the best way possible.”
Thailand’s Goddess Earth comes to the Miss Universe stage
Her position as runner up on the Miss Universe stage, the highest achievement of a Thai contestant for 35 years, became a huge source of pride for many Thais, evident by the large crowds who welcomed the beauty queen on her return to Suvarnabhumi airport. Anntonia’s journey towards the crown also inspired many young Thai girls, which she accepts with a humility.
“I never thought that I would be an inspiration to other people,” she said. “It’s usually me seeing others as an inspiration to me, but every day I try to do my best and I always try to lead with purpose and with grace, so that people can see that it’s so easy to be just like their idols or people they aspire to be, as long as they take that first step and dare to just dream big.”
Despite her accomplishments and accolades, Anntonia is still among many other beauty queens who still have to navigate social pressure, criticism and even cyberbullying, which have caused her moments of self-doubt.
“I don’t want to say that I got through it, because every day is or was a struggle,” Anntonia explains. “I’m still trying to work through it now, because even today, I still get comments, I still get bullied and I still get a lot of people saying nasty things about me, but I always feel like it’s our duty to choose how we react to certain situations.”
In fact, dealing with criticism is not an easy task for everyone and most people often assume that public figures must tolerate all forms of criticism, including hate speech, only because they are in the “spotlight”. Regardless, Anntonia believes that everyone still has the power to choose how they react and to move on from such negativity. The Miss Universe runner-up also says that those who bully others often come from a “place of pain” and, therefore, it is not Anntonia’s nor anyone’s responsibility to find happiness for them.
“So, my natural reaction is to just ignore what they say and focus on positive people and the positive energy around me. You don’t need to focus on the negativity or on the people who don’t even know you, but feel they have something to say. I always tell myself; imagine hating someone so much, but you don’t even know them.”
From the UN to eco-business to charity – the many lives of Thai beauty queen Anntonia Porsild
Beauty pageant winners, traditional gender expectations and showing respect to women
In present times, beauty contests have transformed into a platform for women from all backgrounds to express their opinions on societal and global issues. This demonstrates that they are more than just attractive and have the ability to bring about positive changes. However, Anntonia thinks that women today still need to prove themselves, especially to those who hold old-fashioned views of beauty queens.
“I believe that beauty queens in this era have more to demonstrate, because they are often seen as only being attractive. But I also feel that this generation has more opportunities to express their thoughts and show everyone that being a beauty queen is not just about looks,” she explains.
“We are strong and independent women with careers. Some of us are doctors, teachers, or policewomen, and we have the chance to inspire and empower others to pursue their dreams. Sometimes we have to work harder than others, but we should not hesitate to use our influence and voice to advocate for what is right.”
On International Women’s Day, Anntonia shared her views on the lack of women’s empowerment in Thai society. She spoke about her struggles with online criticism and societal expectations of women, particularly beauty queens. She also highlighted a more significant issue affecting the current perception of Thai women.
“Often, the traditional Thai woman is expected to be gentle, agreeable, avoid conflicts, stay at home, and care for the children. It is not seen positively when we are ambitious businesswomen or have aspirations beyond family care. As a beauty queen, I want to convey the message that you can pursue any goal you have, because I believe ther