Ruth Yirgalem Weldesilasie is competing at the Miss World pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam, where she is determined to use her presence on stage to address violence against women in her home country. Her elder sister, Kidusan, was abducted for ransom earlier this summer while Ruth was preparing for the global competition. Kidusan was found dead in late July, her remains discovered in two suitcases. Ruth’s ex-boyfriend and her sister’s partner are among ten people arrested in connection with the killing.
Ruth told journalists that turning her grief into purpose through advocacy work has motivated her to travel to Vietnam despite her loss. She plans to focus on raising awareness about children’s mental health and maternal health issues. She highlighted endemic problems in Ethiopia including child marriage, which affects nearly 20 million women and girls in a population of 130 million, as well as female genital mutilation practices that still affect nearly half of women aged 15 to 49.
The Miss World pageant is in its 75th anniversary year. Ruth said she was moved by the experience of her family receiving ransom demands for her sister, which made the reality of women being treated as commodities painfully clear. She acknowledged that competing so soon after her sister’s death has been emotionally difficult but said she hopes her presence will send a message that women can persevere through hardship.