RANGOON — Burmese beauty queen Nang Khin Zay Yar was on Tuesday given an award by Mongolia’s beauty pageant association for her charity work since becoming a well-known figure.
The 25-year-old shot to fame after winning Miss Myanmar 2012, and subsequently winning the People’s Choice and Miss Internet awards at the Miss International contest in Japan last year. Since then, she has publicly dedicated herself to charity work.
The Miss Mongolia Association awarded Nang Khin Zay Yar the title of Miss Humanity for her humanitarian efforts. The award was presented by Mongolia’s Miss International 2012, Dolgion Delgerjav, at a promotional concert in Rangoon for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games, which featured Thai rock star Carabao.
“I was so surprised and so glad when Miss Mongolia presented me the award on the stage. At the same time I wanted to cry with happiness and I felt honored,” Nang Khin Zay Yar told The Irrawaddy.
The Miss Mongolia Association has organized Miss Mongolia beauty contests since 2004, and has sent Mongolian beauties to international pageants.
Nang Khin Zay Yar uses her Facebook page to inform fans about her charity work and to invite the people to donate to good causes. She has volunteered at a free funeral service in Rangoon and collected donations for orphanages and old age homes and for children from poor families.
She said that she would not be participating in the upcoming “Miss Humanity International” contest, although she was invited. Instead, she said, receiving the honorary award would encourage her to do more work for charity in Burma.
“I usually post my charity work, written in Burmese language [on Facebook], and I wonder how they know everything about me and what I’m doing here. But I’m so happy to know that they acknowledge my charity work,” she said. “This honor will motivate and encourage me to move forward in helping people in need.”