Maya Reaidy

Maya Reaidy (Arabic: مايا رعيدي‎, born 14 November 1995) is a beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Lebanon 2018. She represented Lebanon at the Miss Universe 2018 pageant in Bangkok, Thailand.[1]

Maya Reaidy
Born	Maya Reaidy (1995-11-14) November 14, 1995 Tannourine, Lebanon
Education	Lebanese American University, American University of Beirut
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Title	Miss Lebanon 2018,Miss World 2020
Beauty pageant titleholder
Hair color	Brown
Eye color	Blue
Major competition(s)	Miss Lebanon 2018 (Winner) Miss Universe 2018 (Unplaced)

Personal life

Reaidy was born and raised in Tannourine. She is an only child to a Lebanese father and a Russian mother.[2][3] She went to Jesus and Mary Collège, then to an Evangelical School in Lebanon.[4] She is a fifth year Pharmacy student at Lebanese American University in Beirut,[5] and has completed two years of psychology at the American University of Beirut prior.[6] She speaks four languages fluently: English, Arabic, French and Russian.[7] Reaidy is an accomplished ballet dancer, enjoys practicing yoga and declares herself to be a vegetarian. She credited Amal Clooney as being one of the inspiring public figures she admires the most for her fight for women's rights.[8]

Pageantry

Miss Lebanon 2018

Reaidy was crowned as Miss Lebanon 2018 held at the Forum de Beyrouth on September 30, 2018 and broadcast on MTV Lebanon.[9] At the question round, Reaidy was asked by composer Guy Manoukian what makes her different from other candidates. She replied: What sets me apart from other candidates is that I am a diplomatic person. I try to understand people instead of criticizing. This sets me apart especially in today's society. In the top 5, Reaidy was asked what was her biggest failure in life. She answered that failure was a necessary step in life in order to succeed.[10] The judging panel consisted of TV host George Kurdahi, singer Nancy Ajram, Miss Lebanon 2004 Nadine Nassib Njeim, actor Adel Karam, designer Nicolas Jebran, composer Guy Manoukian and Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, among others. Reaidy wore a sky blue feathered dress designed by Nicolas Jebran. She succeeded Miss Lebanon 2017, Perla Helou.[11] After the show, Lebanese social media users compared her to Georgina Rizk, the only Lebanese beauty queen to win the title of Miss Universe in 1971 and whose mother was Hungarian.[12] It has been pointed out that Reaidy and Miss Russia 2018 Yulia Polyachikhina bear a striking resemblance.[13]

Reaidy wants to use the Miss Lebanon platform to be a women's rights advocate and to increase knowledge and awareness of women who are unaware of their rights in Lebanon, emphasizing that Lebanese mothers cannot pass on their nationalities to their children.[14] As Miss Lebanon, she is also involved in the Step Together Association, supporting the protection of the rights of children with special needs and participating in activities with the students. In October 2018, Reaidy and her parents met with President of Lebanon Michel Aoun and First Lady of Lebanon Nadia El-Chami at the Baabda Palace.[15] Reaidy was invited to the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Lebanon and met with the ambassador H.E. Dr. Hamad Bin Saeed Al Shamsi in order to participate in the launching of a new initiative to spread awareness about breast cancer.[16]

On October 1, 2018, Reaidy's first television appearance was on Menna W Jerr TV show hosted by Pierre Rabbat and broadcast on MTV (Lebanon). Reaidy is featured on her first cover magazine for women's lifestyle magazine Zahrat Al Khaleej, appearing alongside former Miss USA Rima Fakih and Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters.[17] As part of her Miss Universe preparation, Reaidy flew to Los Angeles for one week of intensive training organized by Miss Lebanon Director Rima Fakih, including photoshoots, wardrobe fittings and casting call at Arab American Casting. She was given motivational speeches by Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton, Miss Guam Universe 2010 Brittany Bell and Miss Wyoming USA 2010 Claire Schreiner. On November 3, 2018, she was featured on the cover of Femme Magazine.[18] The same day, she attended Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram's live performance in Las Vegas.

Miss Universe 2018

Reaidy represented Lebanon at Miss Universe 2018 pageant in Bangkok, Thailand.[19] Out of 94 contestants, Miss Lebanon and Miss Egypt were the only contestants from the Arab world competing in the 67th edition of Miss Universe.[20][21] At the Evening Gown Preliminary Competition, Miss Universe Lebanon 2018 wore a silver and light purple dress designed by Nicolas Jebran.[22] At the National Costume Show, Reaidy chose to represent her homeland by paying tribute to the cedar tree and wore a metallic gold bodysuit with arm pieces and matching thigh-high boots.[23][24]

Reaidy shared her disappointment after failing to place at Miss Universe 2018, creating a big social media controversy.[25] On January 11, 2019, she appeared as a guest on Beit el Kell entertainment show presented by Adel Karam to clarify the controversy.[26]

References

1. McFarlane, Nyree. "The new Miss Lebanon looks just like her most famous predecessor: 1971's Miss Universe". The National. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
2. "Maya Reaidy : "La couronne de Miss Univers est mon but ultime". L'Orient-Le Jour (in French). 8 October 2018.
3. "Miss Liban 2018 : Maya Reaidy a des origines russes". Directinfo (in French). 2 October 2018.
4. "Miss Liban Maya Reaidy". Femme Magazine (in French). 3 November 2018.
5. ""ملكة جمال لبنان 2018" مايا رعيدي: جورجينا رزق تحفزني إلى لقب "ملكة جمال الكون"". Zahrat Alkhaleej (in Arabic). 11 October 2018.
6. "Meet the Miss Universe Contestants". Miss Universe Organization. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
7. "Meet the Miss Universe Contestants". Miss Universe Organization. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
8. "Miss Liban Maya Reaidy". Femme Magazine (in French). 3 November 2018.
9. "Miss Universe jury: Maya Reaidy wins first place". MTV. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
10. "Maya Reaidy sacrée Miss Liban 2018". L'Orient-Le Jour (in French). 1 October 2018.
11. "Maya Reaidy crowned Miss Lebanon 2018". arabnews.com. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
12. McFarlane, Nyree. "The new Miss Lebanon looks just like her most famous predecessor: 1971's Miss Universe". The National. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
13. "Beauty standards in 2018: Lebanon and Russia elect same beauty queen?". Step Feed. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
14. "Miss Liban Maya Reaidy". Femme Magazine (in French). 3 November 2018.
15. "Miss Lebanon Maya Reaidy meets President Michel Aoun". Rinnoo.net. 5 October 2018.
16. "Miss Lebanon 2018 Maya Reaidy at the UAE Embassy". Beiruting.com. 21 October 2018.
17. "ريما فقيه: انتخابي "ملكة جمال أميركا" غير حياتي". Zahrat Al Khaleej (in Arabic). 11 October 2018.
18. "Miss Liban Maya Reaidy". Femme Magazine (in French). 3 November 2018.
19. "Meet the Miss Universe Contestants". Miss Universe Organization. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
20. "Two Arab contestants have made it to the Miss Universe 2018 final". Emirates Woman. 10 December 2018.
21. "Miss Universe 2018: The two contestants from the Arab world vying for the crown". The National. 9 December 2018.
22. "Miss Universe 2018: Preliminary Competition Gown round". Femina Miss India. 14 December 2018.
23. "Miss Universe 2018: See All The Beauties In Their National Costumes — Gorgeous Pics". Hollywood Life. 11 December 2018.
24. "The Six: Arab beauty queens show off national costumes at the Miss Universe show". Arab News. 29 December 2018.
25. "Miss Lebanon 2018 Maya Reaidy Shared Disappointment After Miss Universe". Rinnoo.net. 19 December 2018.
26. "RIMA FAKIH VS. MAYA REAIDY Who's right and who's wrong?". Spécial Madame Figaro. 13 January 2019.

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Perla Helou	Miss Lebanon 2018	Succeeded by Incumbent