Miss Universe Cambodian Winners visit Khmer-American Town

Manita Hang, who was crowned Miss Universe Cambodia 2022, as well as 2020’s Sarita Reth, 2019’s Somnang Alyna and 2018’s Rern Nat, donned their signature formal dresses to greet Lowell, Massachusetts officials on January 20th, according to local reports.

Lowell, Massachusetts has a large Khmer-American community, which includes its Mayor,  namely Sokhary Chau who told the attendees “About 25% of the city is Cambodian, and the Miss Universe competition puts Cambodia in front of an international audience to showcase our beautifully confident women role-models”

As reported Chau led a tour in Khmer through City Hall,  showing them around his office, while also allowing them to bang his gavel on the desk, which elicited the expected laughter. 

Why are the Cambodian Miss Universe Winners traveling around?

Winning Miss Universe it would appear is about much more than being pretty and for winners comes with not just causes, but also huge opportunities for travel and other various career paths.

Each of the four women stand for a specific cause, with Hang focused on youth empowerment and mental health, which is “still limited in our country,” she said, before adding that she hoped her highlighted platform would give her the ability to “raise up” Cambodia.

Reth, who is an actress in Cambodia added that the Miss Universe platform gave her “the guts to believe in herself”. 

Miss Universe in Cambodia

Originally founded in 2016 as Miss Cambodia, it has also been known as Miss International Cambodia and now Miss Universe Cambodia. Since 2016 there have been 4 champions crowned, with the competition taking a hiatus between 2018 to 2019. 

The winner for the 2022 competition,  Manita Hang was presented with the award on June 15th at the Bayon TV Steung Meanchey Studio in Phnom Penh.

Winner so the Cambodian Muss Universe receive a cash prize, sponsorship, as well the opportunity to represent the Kingdom at the Miss Universe International competition, which has been ran since 1952.

To read about Miss Universe International click here.

No Cambodian has yet to win the global title, which comes with a prize of $250,000, although there is great hope that Manita Hang will place in 2023.