Myanmar crowned the first beauty queen since the lifting of a 43-year pageant ban.

20-year-old Ei Yupar Win, a PR worker and a first-year English student, was titled Miss ASEAN Culture Myanmar and received three million kyats ($3,000) after beating 23 fellow finalists.

“I will try my best as a cultural ambassador... to promote our country among other countries,” said to AFP the happy winner, who will compete at a regional final in Jakarta in February along with other finalists from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Miss ASEAN Culture Myanmar is the first beauty pageant that was held since the military government of the country then known as Burma seized power in a 1962 coup and banned beauty pageants saying they undermined Burmese culture.

“I feel today the same way as the day I was on the stage 43 years ago,” said 61-year old pageant judge, Khin Myint Myint, who was the last citizen to don a sash when she was declared Miss Universe Myanmar in 1961.

“The world was interested in me because of the beauty of my eyes and a beautiful complexion,” she recalled.

This time, she said, young ladies entering the Myanmar competition had to be between 20 and 25 years old, speak English, have passed a higher education exam and play at least one traditional Myanmar instrument, and added that judges in Jakarta will evaluate the finalists of Miss ASEAN Culture on intellect and personality.

ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.