Miss World Croatia 2023: We meet the finalists

Miss World Croatia 2023 finalists (Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

The magic of the Plitvice Lakes National Park, with its spectacular waterfalls, lakes, and diverse flora and fauna in the heart of Croatia, provided the backdrop for twelve beautiful finalists of the Miss Croatia 2023 competition for Miss World.

Each of them secured their spot in the final through victory in the county competitions, and the final also includes Miss Croatian diaspora.

During the preparations, the beauties were accommodated in charming houses at the Camping Resort Plitvice, from where they ventured to the beautiful destinations of the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Official photographs were taken beneath the Great Waterfall and at Ranch Terra.

Capturing the beauty of the Plitvice valleys with horses against the picturesque backdrop of untouched nature, the scenes of our beauties with the horse herd absolutely take your breath away.

To ensure the girls shine in the video postcards, the stylists from Studio Marcela and makeup artists from the Profokus Institute took care of elegant styling by Bariba.

Apart from being our oldest national pageant, the Miss Croatia competition differs in that the advancement to the super final is not based solely on the girls’ beauty but also requires them to excel in five demanding categories: sports, talent, multimedia, modeling, and interview. Each category has its mentor, who assists the finalists in achieving the best results in the assigned activities, and who scores and announces the most successful ones.

(Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

The sports category includes the contestants’ fitness, with tests conducted at five fitness stations: squats, balance, power rotation, Miss-marina, and obstacle course. The talent category involves each contestant’s performance, where specific skills or abilities are judged. The multimedia category involves education and tasks based on social media. Since their victory in the county competitions, the finalists have received tasks through social media, which they had to publish. Mentors educate the girls about the good and bad aspects of the internet and social media, teaching them how to present themselves properly in the virtual world.

This category emphasizes knowledge, communicativeness, creativity, and resourcefulness. The modeling category includes catwalk walking, posture, and presentation on the runway. The interview category covers proper pronunciation, eloquence, rhetoric, and behavior in front of cameras. After each category, a winner will be chosen based on the highest number of points in each category individually. The category winners will directly advance to the Top 8, or the super final of Miss Croatia 2023, which will be held on November 27 in Zagreb.

At the Camping Resort Plitvice last weekend, two categories were held. Under the guidance of the host, journalist, and reporter Davor Garić, Luna Marija Novak, Miss Međimurje County, won the interview category and thus became the first super finalist. In the sports category, under the guidance of mag.cin. Vjeko Krsnik, Tia Stilinović, Miss Lika-Senj County, emerged victorious, also securing her place in the super final or the Top 8 of the most successful Miss Croatia 2023 contestants. The other three category winners will be announced just before the final in November, while the top three successful finalists will qualify for the Top 8 based on the scores of the expert jury during the final.

“I congratulate the first super finalists of the Miss Croatia 2023 competition and would like to thank Lika-Senj County, the Tourist Board of Lika-Senj County, the Tourist Board of Plitvice Lakes, and the Plitvice Lakes National Park for their hospitality and cooperation,” said Iva Loparić Kontek, the owner of the license and director of the Directorate.

Introducing the finalists of the Miss Croatia 2023 competition for Miss World:

Antea Krnić – Miss Šibenik-Knin County

Antea Krnić (Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

Antea, 22, from Šibenik, is studying Education at the Faculty of Philosophy in Split. Since childhood, she has wanted to work in a school, imparting knowledge to others and meeting new people. Antea gains discipline and motivation through workouts in the gym and in nature and speaks excellent English. She believes she can showcase her qualities in the world of fashion and hopes to meet like-minded girls and gain new friendships and experiences through this competition.

Ivona Barić – Miss Zadar County

Ivona Barić (Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

Ivona, 23, from Zadar, completed her studies at a hairdressing school and currently works in a fashion store, enjoying styling and helping customers choose the best clothing items. She loves spending time with family and friends, often traveling with them. During relaxation, she enjoys reading and frequently cooks traditional cuisine, especially Mediterranean food. Sports have always been a part of her life, with a preference for athletics, although she also pays attention to high jump. This competition is a new step for her in some new projects, and she hopes for a great experience and meeting many new people.

Jasmina Medžiković – Miss Osijek-Baranja County

Jasmina Medžiković (Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

Jasmina, 19, from Đakovo, is a student at the Faculty of Law in Osijek. She loves animals, especially dogs, and has been involved in sports since she was young. Tennis has always been her number one love. In her free time, she likes to go into nature and spend time with friends, often going to the gym. She would like to travel the world and experience different cultures, with a dream of visiting Istanbul.

As a child, she dreamed of being an influencer and becoming famous, and now she has the perfect opportunity to do so, which she will use to the best of her ability. Cooking is her passion. She considers herself quite cheerful, communicative, and very ambitious. She has many goals in life that she plans to achieve and loves to be surrounded by positive and optimistic people. She sometimes goes to the cinema and theater and enjoys watching movies.

Lana Krnić – Miss Primorje-Gorski Kotar County

Lana Krnić (Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

Lana, 21, is studying International Business at the Faculty of Economics in Rijeka. To supplement her student budget, she works as a promoter for a cosmetic giant. She loves perfumes and dreams of owning her own perfumery one day, with luxurious drops perfectly balanced with natural ingredients that make all perfume lovers happy and satisfied. In her free time, she enjoys being with her family, who are very important to her. She applied for the Miss Croatia competition to highlight her natural beauty, which is increasingly concealed in today’s world.

Lana Valentić – Miss Brod-Posavina County

Lana Valentić (Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

Lana Valentić, 19, comes from Nova Gradiška, where she completed General Gymnasium. She currently works at a gym as a group training leader and aspires to enroll in the Faculty of Kinesiology in the future. Lana has an exceptionally skilled hand for painting and drawing, making her a creative artistic soul.

She also loves nature and animals, volunteering for some time at a shelter for homeless animals, which fulfills her knowing that she has helped a helpless being and provided warmth and love for a moment. She applied for the Miss Croatia competition to make new acquaintances and to try her hand in the world of modeling, which has interested her since childhood. Lana believes she has the opportunity for an excellent placement due to her authenticity, natural beauty that comes from within, and then outside.

Leona Maroši – Miss Požega-Slavonia County

Leona Marosi (Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

Leona Maroši, 23, from Požega, completed high school at the Medical School in Pakrac and is now a proud fourth-year student at the Faculty of Law in Osijek, recognized as an exceptionally successful student. This young beauty, 183 cm tall, has been involved in volleyball, gymnastics, and dance since she was young. Leona has been a volunteer in various associations since she was a child. In her free time, she enjoys reading and has been awarded twice for being the best reader at the City Library in Požega. She maintains her form by swimming and taking daily walks of at least 10 km. She hopes to meet new people and make new friendships.

Luna Marija Novak – Miss Međimurje County

Luna Marija Novak (Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

Luna Marija Novak, 17, is a high school senior at Josip Slavenski Gymnasium in Čakovec. She believes that education is the most important and priority in everyone’s life and is extremely excited about her upcoming student life. Dancing and acting are Luna’s two great loves, and the spotlight is not unfamiliar to her, as she has been an active member of the “Korak” dance studio under the guidance of mentor Virna Hošnjak for many years. From memorable life experiences, she highlights her performances in musicals and singing in the choir for musicals such as “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Les Misérables,” where she played the lead role of young Cosette alongside well-known names in the Croatian entertainment industry.

She entered the world of modeling for the first time at the age of six when she enrolled in a fashion school under the guidance of Dora Markotić Martinez and participated in many fashion shows. She enjoys photography and is a passionate lover of running and athletics, running every day and going to the gym. High school allows her to volunteer at the “Novinščak” home for the elderly and infirm, where new and older generations come together, creating a unique environment accompanied by conversation, laughter, and beautiful moments of socializing. She considers volunteering a benefit as it makes her happy and fulfilled. She hopes that this competition will bring her some new experiences and help her meet many new people.

Mia Bočina – First Runner-Up Miss Split-Dalmatia County

Mia Bočina (Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

Mia, 17, completed her studies at the Vocational School in Split. She has always enjoyed styling her dolls’ hair, cutting it, and beautifying it, knowing from an early age that she wanted to be a hairdresser. Caring for hair and the fact that hair is an essential factor of beauty gives Mia many opportunities to showcase her talent.

She speaks English excellently. She loves dancing, which has given her impeccable form and condition, and has been involved in acrobatic rock and roll for many years. For her, the Miss Croatia competition is a completely new experience and a desire to meet people with similar thinking. She looks forward to the challenges ahead.

Patricija Dimitrovski – Miss Varaždin County 

Patricija Dimitrovski (Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

Patricija, 24, from Varaždin, works as a Personal and Property Protection Technician. She takes her job seriously and is exceptionally responsible. She spends her free time with friends and family, considering her dog her best friend. Patricija also loves to dance, and that is what fulfills her. She creates choreographies herself, believing that every person should have a hobby for a well-fulfilled day.

As a child, she was involved in sports such as football and handball. Patricija is a leader at a fashion school for young girls, preparing them for fashion shows and editorials. She enjoys working with children because through their joy and happiness, she remembers her most beautiful moments from preschool. She has already participated in numerous fashion shows and music videos, and believes that this Miss Croatia competition will help her expand her circle of relevant people with whom she can improve her skills in the world of fashion. She wants to prove that beauty and intelligence indeed go hand in hand and that Croatian women are truly the most beautiful in the world.

Tara Begedin – Miss Zagreb City

Tara Begedin (Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

Tara is turning 18 soon and attends a general gymnasium in Zagreb. She has been practicing dance since she was a child, and it remains a great love of hers. She has maintained her physical fitness for the past two years in the gym. Tara speaks English excellently. She is 174 centimeters tall. She will start college next year, and her main desire is to study public relations or communication. The choice of college and future profession is not surprising, given that Tara enjoys meeting and interacting with people and gaining new experiences.

Tia Stilinović – Miss Lika-Senj County

Tia Stilinović (Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

Tia, from Gospić, is 17 years old and is in her third year of General Gymnasium. She speaks English and German. She completed elementary music school for the piano and trained in basketball and Zumba. She loves exercising and going to the gym, believing that it brings peace to her mind. She spends her free time with family, friends, and her pets.

Tia is proud of her personality, with persistence, courage, and creativity being the words that best describe her. She readily accepts challenges and, as Miss Croatia, she would engage in caring for and finding homes for abandoned animals, believing that they, too, need attention and love. She has been interested in the world of modeling since childhood, but school and education are her top priorities. She is convinced that this entire experience will help her become a stronger and more complete person.

Tomislava Dukić – Miss Croatian Diaspora 

Tomislava Dukić (Photo credit: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske)

Tomislava, from Tomislavgrad, is 25 years old and loves to travel. She graduated from the Faculty of Kinesiology in Split and is very disciplined and dedicated to sports and a healthy lifestyle. She emphasizes the importance of taking care of oneself and one’s body. She has traveled many countries. She hopes that this competition will allow her to meet new people who may one day help her realize her future plans and projects.

Photos: Boris Mataković za Miss Hrvatske
Video: Matko Pecotić
Hair: Studio Marcela
Make-up: Profokus
Clothes: Bariba