Drita Ziri

 Albania wins 23rd Miss Earth crown, PH in Top 2

By Earl D C. Bracamonte

Drita Ziri of Albania was crowned Miss Earth 2023 at the culmination of glitzy rites in Van Phuc City. She received her Long Beach Pearl crown from outgoing queen Mina Sue Choi of Korea. Ziri was part of Team Europe who won the Best Eco Project. As a delegate she bested 84 other hopefuls.

Pageant aficionados will remember Ziri as the co-host of the recently concluded Miss Globe pageant in her home country.

Miss Philippines Earth 2023 Yllana Marie Aduana was hailed Miss Earth Air. Earlier in the prelims, she won as Best Bikini and her award was likewise announced during the coronation night.

Hometown girl Lan Anh of Vietnam was named Miss Earth Water. The Vietnamese beauty also won as Best National Costume and Best in Appearance.

Cora Bliault of Thailand was proclaimed Miss Earth Fire. All the other delegates from the Top 8 were all announced as runners-up to the queen and the elemental court. These were the delegates from Netherlands,  Brazil, Russia, and Kazakhstan who won the Best in Gown Award.

The other delegates who qualified for the Top 12 were Venezuela, South Africa, Puerto Rico, and Indonesia; who was proclaimed as People's Choice awardee for topping the online poll. The other delegates who made it to the semifinal round were Belgium, Bulgaria, India, Zimbabwe, Canada, England, Mauritius, and the USA.

Miss New Zealand was named Miss Talent. TNA Entertainment, who organized this year's pageant edition, announced that they will also host the Miss Earth 2024 international finals next year.

Hosted by James Deakin, the 23rd Miss Earth final show was beamed to a global audience via the Miss Earth channel on YouTube and Facebook. As a pageant system, the Miss Earth platform always strikes a balance between nature and humanity.