Provinces around the country are staging contests to choose the most attractive young women in Ms Pi Mai Lao beauty pageants, but the people of Kaysone Phomvihane district in Savannakhet province have already made their choice.
Ms Soupatta Vongtanya, 17, a student at Savannakhet Secondary School , was selected as the district's Miss Lao New Year 2008 last Saturday.
The contest took place at the Kaysone Phomvihane district hall in Huameung village on April 5, and was attended by District Vice Governor Chanthalai Sitthinalongsy and guests from the public and private sectors.
“This is an annual event, held before Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year), to select a winner to ride on a float depicting the animal representing the New Year, which this year is the rat,” said an official from Kaysone Phomvihane district office, Ms Lamngeun Vongnorbountham.
“The Nangsangkhan (Ms Pi Mai Lao) procession will take place this coming Sunday, beginning at our office and proceeding to Xaiyaphoum temple where people will worship at Inhang stupa,” Ms Lamngeun said.
“On the same day we will also hold a makbeng (ceremonial centrepiece) making competition and, because of the large number of contestants this year, we plan to provide bigger and better prizes, as the business sector is now supporting this event.”
Runner-up in the Ms Pi Mai Lao contest was Ms Visouda Bonglamphone, 19, a student in the Department of Law and Political Sciences at Savannakhet College . Third place went to Ms On-anong Nanthavone, an 18-year-old student at Savannakhet Secondary School .
“I was so excited to be chosen as the district's Ms Pi Mai Lao this year. I never thought I would be selected because the competition was very strong, but I think the judges chose me because of my singing and dancing and the good answers I gave to the questions they asked during the competition,” said Ms Soupatta.
“This is the first time I've entered the contest, or any other competition. In the past I've just participated in performances held as part of New Year celebrations or in shows organised by my school,” she added.
Luang Prabang and Champassak provinces have also made Ms Pi Mai Lao selections and today another contest will take place at the National University of Laos to select the university's Ms Pi Mai Lao.
