Andrea Erjavec crowned new Miss Universe Croatia

Andrea Erjavec has been crowned Miss Universe Croatia 2023 (Photo: PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

ZAGREB, 3 May 2023 – Andrea Erjavec has been crowned Miss Universe Croatia 2023 after the competition was held at the Emerald Hall of the Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb on Wednesday night.

Sixteen contestants from across Croatia took part in the competition with the road to the title and starting two weeks earlier with preparations in Pula’s Grand Hotel Brioni and the Hotel Esplanada in Zagreb.

The preliminary competition involved an interview with the jury and a swimsuit competition, and the top 10 contestants were selected for the final competition. These intelligent and beautiful young women included a mathematics master’s degree holder, a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture, as well as students of pre-school education, kinesiology, sociology, and international law.

These young women were a perfect example of how beauty and intelligence can go hand in hand, and they serve as an inspiration for young girls.

The winner, Andrea Erjavec, is 23 years old and comes from Perušić. She speaks excellent English, and she is studying teaching at the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Education in Petrinja.

Andrea Erjavec (Photo: PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Andrea takes pride in her emotional development, her ability to face new challenges, and her pursuit of becoming a better version of herself. She enjoys being active and spending time with her family and friends, going to the theatre and museums, and staying physically fit. Andrea believes that education, information, and resources should be accessible to everyone worldwide to create positive changes in the world.

As Miss Universe Croatia, Andrea would advocate for the physical and mental health of children, as she believes that it is one of the most significant issues facing them. She also believes that investing in education and empowering parents is crucial to providing quality care and support to children in all aspects of their lives.

“Miss Universe is no longer just a beauty pageant. The successful young women who compete on the world stage often speak multiple languages and hold multiple degrees, and they are highly regarded in their countries. They have hundreds of thousands of followers on their platforms because they advocate for positive change and work on projects to promote positive values. These young women are chosen as spokespersons and ambassadors for their countries because of their actions and their initiatives to promote necessary changes in society and youth,” said Ivana Delač, director of public relations.

Andrea Erjavec (Photo: PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

In the glamorous final competition, the Top 10 contestants from the preliminary competition were judged in Pletix swimsuits and Bariba evening gowns. During the introduction, they wore elegant cocktail dresses and Baldinini shoes. Studio Marcela, a chain of hair salons, provided the hair and makeup, led by the director. Miss Universe exists to advocate for a positive future led by courageous and inspirational women who push the boundaries of what is possible.

Along with Erjavec, Lucciana Ćebo, Sara Garac, Polina Mytko, and Mihaela Posavec were named the other top five finalists, and they were challenged to address various topics such as global warming, the challenges faced by youth today, how to deal with failure, freedom of speech, and women’s emancipation.

Lucciana Ćebo was judged first runner-up, Garac as second runner-up, Posavec as fourth runner-up, and Mytko as fifth runner-up. The contestants also voted for Paola Kliba as the winner of the Miss Congeniality award.

(Photo: PR Miss Universe Hrvatske)

Arijana Podgajski, the previous year’s winner, crowned Erjavec as the new Miss Universe Croatia, and she received a prize of up to 20,000 euros worth of tuition for a four-year undergraduate or MBA program at the Zagreb School of Economics and Management. The pageant was sponsored by various companies, including the Polyclinic Svjetlost, which provides eye care services, and Dr. Vivian Estetics.

The event also featured musical performances by Jacques Houdek and Groovetastic, and it was hosted by Davor Garić. In attendance were 12 former Miss Universe Croatia winners, including Ivana Mišura, Ivana Delač, Elizabeta Burg, Sarah Ćosić, Barbara Filipović, Mirna Naiia Marić, Lana Obad, Marijana Rupčić, and Arijana Podgajski.

Erjavec now has the honor of representing Croatia at the Miss Universe 2023 pageant in El Salvador later this year.