Bolatito Mercy
Miss Ethiopia contestant Ruth Yirgalem Weldesilasie has vowed to transform the pain of losing her sister into a mission to advocate for women’s rights as she represents her country at the Miss World pageant in Vietnam.
The 25-year-old told AFP in Nha Trang, Vietnam, that she was thinking of her elder sister, Kidusan Yirgalem Weldesilasie, who was abducted and killed shortly before the international beauty contest.
Kidusan, 29, was reportedly kidnapped for ransom while Ruth was preparing for the pageant. Her remains were later discovered in late July, with local media reports stating that Ruth’s former boyfriend and her sister’s partner were among 10 suspects arrested in connection with the case.
Ruth said she decided to attend the competition despite her grief because she wants to use the global platform to draw attention to violence against women and other social challenges affecting women in Ethiopia.
“I’m going to change my pain to my purpose,” she said, adding that although she cannot bring her sister back, she believes there are things she can achieve by moving forward.
The Miss World pageant, which marks its 75th anniversary this year, has increasingly focused on contestants’ charity and advocacy initiatives alongside its traditional celebrations.
Ruth said her social impact projects focus on children’s mental health and maternal care, stressing that supporting women helps restore their dignity and improve their lives.
She also highlighted wider challenges facing Ethiopian women, including child marriage, female genital mutilation, and gender-based violence. According to United Nations data, millions of women in Ethiopia were married or entered unions before turning 18.
Ruth said her experiences travelling across Ethiopia have exposed her to many issues affecting women and strengthened her determination to speak out.
She recalled the painful moment when her family received a ransom demand for her sister, saying it was difficult to accept that a loved one’s life could be assigned a price.
Although she expects to continue grieving after returning home, Ruth said her sister’s memory motivates her to stand for women everywhere.
She hopes her participation in the Miss World pageant will inspire women facing difficult circumstances to remain strong and believe they can overcome challenges.
