Ethiopian Miss World contestant turns sister’s tragic death into a mission for qomen’s rights

Ethiopia’s representative at the Miss World pageant, Ruth Yirgalem Weldesilasie, is preparing to step onto the international stage while carrying the painful memory of her elder sister, who was kidnapped and later found murdered shortly before the competition.

The 25-year-old beauty contestant told AFP in Vietnam’s coastal city of Nha Trang that she was determined to transform her grief into a meaningful cause. “I’m going to change my pain to my purpose,” Ruth said as 111 contestants prepared for the grand finale of the pageant.

Ruth’s 29-year-old sister, Kidusan Yirgalem Weldesilasie, was abducted for ransom during the summer while Ruth was preparing to travel for the global competition. Her sister was later found dead in late July, with her remains reportedly discovered divided between two suitcases. According to local media reports, Ruth’s former boyfriend and Kidusan’s partner are among 10 people arrested in connection with the case.

The tragedy has strengthened Ruth’s determination to speak about violence against women in Ethiopia, where women and girls continue to face serious social and gender-based challenges. She believes her decision to travel to Vietnam despite her personal loss can provide her with an international platform to draw attention to these issues.

Ruth said participating in the competition had been a lifelong dream. Before leaving Ethiopia, she reflected on the fact that she could not bring her sister back, but believed there were still meaningful things she could accomplish by going to the pageant.

The upcoming event marks the 75th anniversary of Miss World, one of the world’s oldest beauty competitions. While beauty pageants have historically faced criticism for portraying women primarily as objects of glamour, modern contests have increasingly highlighted contestants’ charitable activities, social campaigns and advocacy work alongside the traditional performances.

Ruth’s own social impact initiatives focus on children’s mental well-being and maternal health. She believes improving the lives of women can have a wider impact on families and communities. “When you heal a woman, you give her dignity back,” she said, adding that supporting women can give them “another life.”

Her experiences while travelling across Ethiopia have also exposed her to broader problems affecting women and girls. United Nations data indicates that almost 20 million women in Ethiopia were married or entered into a union before turning 18. Although female genital mutilation has declined, the practice still affects nearly half of women aged 15 to 49.

A petition urging Ethiopia’s government to declare violence against women a national crisis has also attracted nearly 170,000 signatures. Years of instability and the 2020-2022 war in northern Ethiopia have further worsened conditions for many women.

For Ruth, the kidnapping of her sister made the issue painfully personal. Recalling the ransom demand, she said it was dificult to comprehend that someone she loved could be treated as if her life had a monetary value.

Although Ruth expects to face intense grief when she returns home, she says her sister’s memory will continue to motivate her. As a child, she was often told that she had a responsibility to protect her elder sister. Now, she hopes to extend that responsibility to women beyond her own family.

Through her appearance at Miss World, Ruth wants to send a message of resilience: even when life becomes unbearably difficult, women can continue to rise, speak out and create change.

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