Myanmar pageant contender in Thailand calls for urgent international aid

A pageant contestant from Myanmar has used her moment in the spotlight to appeal for urgent international help for her country as security forces suppressing protests against last month’s coup killed more than 100 people.

Yangon University student Han Lay made the comments Saturday night at the Miss Grand International pageant held in the Thai capital Bangkok.

As she was speaking, news was coming out from across the border in Myanmar that at least 114 people had been killed in the bloodiest day since the February 1 coup.

Han Lay had made no secret of her sympathies in a publicity video interview two weeks ago and on her Instagram page, which shows memes and photos from the protest movement in her homeland.

Myanmar has turned into a warzone since the military coup

Yet it was still surprising to see a contestant at an international pageant use the event to in part criticise her own…