Shirin Akter Shela makes Bangladesh proud on Miss Universe platform

Winner of the title of Miss Universe Bangladesh 2019, Shirin represented Bangladesh at the globally recognized beauty pageant with class and standard

We already know that Miss South Africa was crowned Miss Universe on Sunday. But this year, the popular beauty pageant had special importance for Bangladeshis since, for the first time ever, there was representation from our country at the 68th instalment of Miss Universe. 

Shirin Akter Shela opened a new pathway for Bangladeshi female models by participating on the international platform. 

Winner of the title of Miss Universe Bangladesh 2019, Shirin represented Bangladesh at the globally recognized beauty pageant with class and standard.

Shirin's journey in the Miss Universe stopped in the semi-finals. The entire country rooted for her, although she couldn't make it to the top 10. But she won the hearts of millions and made the country proud. 

At the Miss Universe National Costume event, Shirin set the stage on fire with her red jamdani sari and pair of alphabet earrings, along with a rickshaw hood as a prop. 

When her photos were shared on various social media platforms, netizens were  mesmerized by her costume in an instant. On her Facebook profile, Shirin wrote: "STORY BEHIND MY NATIONAL costume: The Miss Universe National Costume represents a nation’s culture and identity. The Bangladeshi costume for this year is a red Jamdani saree, complete with a model hood of the iconic Bangladeshi rickshaws, and jewellery made to imitate Bengali letters. Jamdani is a handloom woven fabric made of cotton, an age old Bengali tradition that has been long celebrated across the world. The rickshaw hood represents multiple elements of the Bangladeshi identity."

Earlier this year, Miss Universe Bangladesh was officially launched for the first time. Shirin was crowned as Miss Universe Bangladesh on October 24 by Bollywood actor Sushmita Sen. Shirin is a third-year student of   the physics department at Dhaka University. Her family is from Thakurgaon, and her father is a soldier of Border Guards Bangladesh.