Who is Han Lay, the Myanmar beauty queen who opposes the military coup?
In Myanmar, the military seized power on February 1, 2021. In the first days when those who opposed the coup started protests, Myanmar beauty queen Han Lay's words were on the agenda of the world.
She asked for help by explaining that innocent civilians who were fighting for democracy in her country were killed in the beauty contest she attended.
Thaw Nandar Aung (born 1999), known as Han Lay, is a Burmese beauty pageant titleholder, model, and pro-democracy activist. Han was crowned Miss Grand Myanmar 2020 and represented Myanmar at Miss Grand International 2020, where she finished in the Top 20.
Yangon University student Miss Myanmar Han Lay, in her speech at the Miss Grand International beauty pageant held in Bangkok, Thailand, expressed her sadness for those who lost their lives in the protests in her country. Han Lay said, "Every citizen wants their country to have a prosperous and peaceful atmosphere. While I am speaking here, many people are losing their lives in my country. I feel very sorry for them. Please help Myanmar. We need urgent international help."
September 2022
Han Lay, who opposed the junta in Myanmar, was denied entry to Thailand
The 23-year-old model, who made a speech against the military administration, encountered obstacles at the airport in Thailand.
Activists called on authorities not to send Khan back to Myanmar.
Khan, 23, came to the fore when she opposed the military's deadly suppression of anti-junta protests in her native Myanmar.
The model, whose real name is Thaw Nandar Aung, was stopped at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on her way back from a short visit to Vietnam.