The 23-year-old Zreče native, who is studying to become a vet, made it to the top 12 at the 18th edition of the Miss Earth pageant in Manila, and she also claimed medals in three competitions: evening gown, swimsuit, and talent. After her return to Slovenia, she fielded questions from journalists, and MMC wanted to know how she felt about the fact that beauty pageants have decreased in popularity in Slovenia. “It's simple. We have too many beauty pageants: ‘Miss’ this, ‘Miss’ that, that's your reason right there. And our government doesn’t fund modelling schools, so we can’t compete with the likes of Venezuela, Colombia, or the Phillipines,” said Burjan
She strongly believes we should move past the stereotype that beauty and brains don’t go together, especially when it comes to the Miss Earth pageant. “To be considered for this pageant, you need to be educated, wear an environmentally friendly dress, and you need to have taken part in environmental projects. All of that requires a lot of specific knowledge. This beauty pageant combines brains with purpose,” said Burjan. Because she is studying to become a vet, her focus was on animal rights.
Train and eat your vitamins
Even though she missed out on a month of lectures, her college hosted a reception for her after she returned from the Philippines. “At the end of the day, I was there to promote my country – and them as well,” said Burjan, adding: “So, it’s back to college for me, but I’m still into modelling and music.” She was the only one at the pageant to sing an opera song, Sara Brightman’s “Time to Say Goodbye”. But what does she do to stay healthy and in shape, which is another important message of the pageant? “I work out a lot, and I’m constantly on the go. Everyone must find what suits them best. I eat a lot of fruit and veg.”
The 2018 edition of the environmentally-themed Miss Earth beauty pageant saw 87 contestants vie for the title. In the end, it was Phuong Khanh Nguyen, a 23-year-old marketing student from Vietnam, who was crowned the winner. The event also marked Slovenia’s best placing in the Miss Earth pageant to date. Previously, that honour belonged to Rebecca Kim Lekše, who made it to the top 16 in 2011. “At first, I didn’t even realize what I had achieved – not only for myself but for my country. This result put Slovenia on the beauty pageant map,” said Burjan, adding: “I told the audience that Slovenia was a world leader in ecotourism and that the country is considered the green heart of Europe.” She also highlighted Bled and Rogla as two of the top destinations to visit in Slovenia.
