21-year old Aniporn Chalermburanawong, a model and student from Lampang, was crowned the 16th Miss Universe Thailand 2015 during the annual pageant held at the Royal Paragon Hall in Siam Paragon, Bangkok, on July 18th. 40 entrants from countrywide had camped in Ubon Ratchathani before flying back to Bangkok for the final stage. Pimbongkod Chankaew, 1st Runnerup of Miss Universe Thailand 2014 and representative of Thailand at Miss Universe 2014, crowned her successor at the end of this event that was broadcast in part live on Channel 3.
The 2015 pageant was the first time ever that Miss Universe Thailand used the same format as Miss Universe pageant; Top 15 (Swimsuit competition), Top 10 (Evening gown competition), and Top 5 (Final questions and final look). Aniporn stands 1.76 m in height and will be the representative of Thailand during the next edition of the Miss Universe pageant that will take place in Shanghai, China sometime in December.
Thailand has won the competition twice, in 1965 and 1988 She picked up a million baht in winnings as part of her prize package. Chavika Watrsang from Phuket was the 1st runnerup and won 100,000 baht cash.
Photo by Phoowin Auttrasingha
