Shining Off and On Stage

LUANG PRABANG, Laos: Ms Papao Phaimany Lathsabanthao joined the Miss Universe Laos competition not only to make her mother proud but also to empower women who make handicrafts for a living.

She first participated in 2022, hoping to bring attention to traditional Laotian costumes made using local silk and textiles by women. The competition, which used Lao textile, silk, and motifs of Naga – which is a half-serpent, half-human water spirit in Laotian legend, was the perfect platform to promote her cause.

“Miss Universe is the biggest platform for all the women joining to share their passion with the world,” said Ms Lathsabanthao.

She was crowned in her second year running and took the opportunity to raise awareness for her passion project, Share to Shine.

Share to Shine was founded in 2016 to teach women how to weave merchandise using Lao textiles and sell them for allowance. The platform also provides women an avenue to promote Laotian handicrafts. The ethos behind the initiative is to help them be financially independent.

Ms Lathsabanthao’s mother serves as an inspiration to advocate for women's empowerment and local products. “It is popular to wear Lao silk and Lao cotton. My mum, she is a weaver and I grew up just like my mum. I was falling in love with Lao silk and textiles.”

She added, “I saw my mum sitting on the floor and watching the Miss Universe competitions on TV and I want to be the woman who’s standing in front of my mum on a TV and she can be proud of me.”

Since 2018, Share to Shine also started supporting people with disabilities, collaborating with organisations such as Xonphao. Handmade accessories made from waste materials and fabrics are showcased through a recycled fashion show. The latest instalment of the “WE CAN Xon Phao’s Recycle Products and fashion show” was hosted on 7 June 2024 in Vientiane.

Ms Lathsabanthao hopes that more women gain confidence in themselves and “listen to their heart”. By being more confident, women can learn and inspire more people around the world.

“Laos silk is more than the silk, or more than the textile, so more than just wearing, but we can show how gorgeous our cultural traditional wear is, and how Lao women have creativity in themselves and expressing themselves through Lao textiles and Lao silk,” she said.




Credits List:
WKWSCI Volunteer Programme

Featuring
Ms Papao Phaimany Lathsabanthao

Written by
Edgen Teng

Special Thanks
WKWSCI Tech Team
Uncle Allan