BANGKOK — An 18-year-old beauty queen from Albania is winning Thai hearts and hashtags in what could be the strongest cultural connection between a Balkan nation and the kingdom in recent history.
Thais are calling Miss Universe Albania 2018 Trejsi Sejdini “Nong Trej” (Little Sister Trej) as a term of endearment and filling social media with support for a girl they see as atypical pageant fare. It doesn’t hurt that she’s embraced her new fans, enthusiastically repeating the Thai phrases they throw at her.
“She looks like a fierce but cute person,” said pageant superfan Pattaraporn “Patty” Suwanmanee. “She breaks the usual pageant queen rules. So people are interested in her because she’s real.”
Patty says the Thai pageant fanbase had already been following Sejdini on social media ever since she won the crown in her home country in June and surprised her with a welcome brigade at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
“For an underdog pageant country like Albania, that was probably very surprising,” Patty said. “So she treats her fans very well, always reposting their fan-made content, greeting her fans, and saying Thai phrases that her fans ask. Fans love her and feel close to her.”
It’s a very different reception than that received by some of Sejdini’s competitors. Angry calls have been issued for Miss Universe USA Sarah Rose Summers to be expelled after she criticized the English-speaking ability of Miss Cambodia and Miss Vietnam in an online video.
As for Sejdini, Patty said she has an exciting social media presence, where she posts about partying, smoking and drinking “without caring,” a departure from the usual wholesome image-crafting.
Thitipong Duangkong, 37, a pageant expert and gender studies professor at Thammasat University, said Sejdini’s buoyant demeanor appeals to LGBT pageant followers.
“There’s a sense of community with the fandom because of similar body language and facial expressions. She does sexy and fierce poses and isn’t afraid to express her sensuality through her body,” he said. “Her actions have a chemistry with the effeminate behaviors of transwomen, katoey and gays.”
A very Thai hashtag has emerged to express praise for Sejdini. Fans are posting clips of her speaking Thai phrases, their fanart and clips of her onstage with #MyDaughterIsAGoodPerson as a tongue-in-cheek way of defending her cheeky demeanor.
“Hi, mom. I’m a good person,” Sejdini says in Thai in several clips that have gone viral.
Twitter user @MrPlanet607 perhaps explained it best.
“Thai fans created the tag to protect and show love to her” after “somebody left a bad comment like ‘your dress is a little too revealing,’” he wrote in a message retweeted more than 500 times.
In a preliminary round held Thursday at Impact Muang Thong Thani, 94 contestants stood on stage in evening gowns and performed the “pageant wave” in unison – all except for Sejdini, who won screams and cheers for raising her hands above her head to make peace doves in a diva-esque move.
“It seems so cool when she doesn’t conform to looking like the ‘good woman’ pageants usually look for,” the academic said. “She’s becoming a media darling and has won the hearts of Thai pageant fans.”
“Hello, mom. I’m a good person,” Sejdini says in Thai in a clip.
ดูโพสต์นี้บน Instagram
วงวารน้อง #ลูกฉันเป็นคนดี ให้ทำอะไรก็ทำว่านอนสอนง่าย #อุ่นไอรักคลายความหนาว
Sejdini responds to a fan by saying their name.
“My daughter is a good person,” Sejdini says in a clip posted by Vogue Thailand.
I’m here Mom!! 😘 #ลูกฉันเป็นคนดี #Missuniverse #Thailand #Missuniverse #Missuniverse2018 #MissuniverseThailand2018 #งดเข้าธนาคารเพราะผู้จัดการไปยูนิเวิร์ส pic.twitter.com/hT7VG9fNMP
— wtf (@aabc4225) December 4, 2018
“I’m here, Mom,” Sejdini says in another fan-posted clip.
WITH ALL OUR HEARTS ❤ #MissUniverse2018 #ลูกฉันเป็นคนดี Cr.P’Lek pic.twitter.com/wMUpL38ZrM
— ForTREJSI (@fandissnaebjorn) December 13, 2018
The beginning of rooting for this girl is fierceness and naughtiness. But Now, I feel a super amazing and mindful angel in this beauty. Hope you have great things on this competition. Thai fans are sending Big Hug for you. #ลูกฉันเป็นคนดี #MissAlbania #MissUniverse2018 pic.twitter.com/iCnjL5R1hA
— Gummyboso (@gummyboso) December 7, 2018
I am in love with this place and with this Thai dessert ☺️☺️ #missuniverse #albania #missalbania #missuniverse2018 #mythaifan #thailand pic.twitter.com/pbamqqp4um
— TREJSI SEJDINI (@trejsi_sejdini) December 7, 2018
Love you 😍 #MissUniverse #MissUniverse2018#ลูกฉันเป็นคนดี #MissAlbania #Roadtomissuniverse#Socute #Sosexy #ลูกฉันเป็นคนดี pic.twitter.com/jqCGp0y89n
— Thanyakorn jainoi (@tk_jainoi) December 6, 2018
Don’t know why but I really love her❤❤. Her Attitude, her natural is adorable for me. #ลูกฉันเป็นคนดี #MissUniverse2018 #MissAlbania @trejsi_sejdini pic.twitter.com/MnDKHuNeRA
— Nar (@Nar38134071) December 9, 2018
สวยมากลูกแม่ ✨😘 @trejsi_sejdini #ลูกฉันเป็นคนดี #MissUniverse2018 #MissAlbania2018 #albania pic.twitter.com/cCdGutB4xD
— ยาดมตราส้มโอมือ (@LoveNichapha) December 8, 2018
While in Thai costume at the Un Ai Rak Winter Fair, Sejdini poses for a fan and gives them a wai while saying “sawasdee ka.”
One more clip to show that Im fully support her@trejsi_sejdini #ลูกฉันเป็นคนดี #MissUniverse2018 #MissAlbania pic.twitter.com/wlPQmTheoH
— ArmKB (@Helloth31997397) December 13, 2018
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