The 25th Edition of Miss Teen International was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia at Aeon Hall on June 22. 24 Countries across the world were competing for the prestigious title. Barabara Parraga, an 18-year-old model from Venezuela, was crowned as Miss Teen International 2023. Ngô Ngọc Gia Hân of Vietnam crowned her successor Bárbara Párraga.
India’s Mannat Siwach became the first Runner-Up while Sok Nidananth of Cambodia was crowned as the 2nd Runner-Up. The event commenced from June 16 to June 24.
After a series of activities including closed-door interviews and preliminaries, the week-long pageant had the finale and coronation night at the Aeon Hall in Phnom Penh, Cambodia- this year’s host country.
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The Preliminary competition was held on 18th June when the contestants showcased their national costumes and walked in Khmer Dresses and in their evening gowns.
The Grand Finale consisted of Introduction Round, Swimsuit Round, Evening Gown, and Question Answer Rounds before the winners were announced. The grand finale was hosted by the Filipino Singer and Host Lance Raymundo. The Grand Finale was directed by the Indian Show Director Sham Khan.
Parraga, who is 18 years old and a language student, also won the Best Body Award and Best in Swimsuit Award.
Miss Teen International is the biggest and longest-running beauty pageant for young girls, headed by Nikhil Anand, the owner of Glamanand Group.
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The final question asked to the Top 5 candidates were:
If Teens were to Rule the world, what it be like, and how should they treat the adults?
Barbara Paragga answered: “If teens rule the world, it will be a tough task as they do not have the knowledge or the experience to rule the world. They should treat the elders with respect and love as they have us with all the love and gave us the knowledge we have.”
Barbara Paragga, after winning, expressed joy and gratitude towards Miss Teen International Organization. She thanked her mentors, parents, and god for always supporting her.
Talking about her win, she says, “Being named as Miss Teen International 2023 I felt many mixed emotions! The first was the satisfaction of achieving the triumph after so much work and effort, I also felt a lot of happiness and joy. I am grateful to God and the Virgin who never abandoned me, grateful to my parents who are my greatest inspiration and to whom I will always dedicate all my achievements, I also thank my manager will prado who was the one who accompanied me on this long road, to my country Venezuela for allowing me to be born and grow in its immensity, to the Miss Teen International organization for giving me this great opportunity and above all I thank myself! For trusting me! And never abandon me.”
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Describing her journey, she says, “My trip in the Miss Teen International was something extraordinary a totally unique and very nice experience, I am super grateful to the Miss Teen International organization for the excellent work they did and I thank God who gave me the opportunity to come to this trip of which I not only take the crown to my country but I take unique friendships and a beautiful experience of this country, Cambodia.”
Barabara Paragga returned to Venezuela and had her homecoming on June 27.
