Miss Kosovo

"Since February Kosovo has been trying to consolidate its independence ? build up its governance structures and get its foot in the door to international and regional institutions like the EU, NATO, World Bank and IMF. But its most important effort has been at attempting to secure recognition of its independence from the community of sovereign states ? a legal and diplomatic requirement for legitimizing a country?s independence. To date, Kosovo?s efforts have lagged. Only 43 countries have formally recognized Kosovo?s independence, and progress has stalled. Whilst amongst the 43 are big names like the UK, US, Japan and several European neighbors, it is widely perceived to be an insufficient number: a critical mass of support has yet to be achieved.

But all that was overshadowed last night as for the first time in history Miss Kosovo took her place amongst the 81 finalists of the Miss Universe pageant watched by a television audience of 1 billion. Now that?s international legitimacy if ever there was! Sandwiched between Miss Korea and Miss Malaysia, Zana Krasniqi was a 5?7? green-eyed beauty whose star really shone through.

Miss Kosovo was an instant crowd favorite, and the judges agreed ? putting her through to the Top 10 finalists ? a fantastic feat for a first-time participating country and visibly nervous contestant. If further proof was required that Kosovo had indeed come out from behind Serbia?s shadow, Miss Kosovo easily trounced all her cross-Balkan rivals including Miss Serbia. " (Century Foundation)

- Slow News Day -