The first-ever Miss Supranational Bahrain Advaita Shetty will be headed to Poland this July to represent the kingdom, becoming the first person from the GCC to participate in the competition.

The Bahrain-loving audiologist and former May Queen is hoping to highlight the beauty of the kingdom and the resilience of its people, offering the world a new perspective on the island beyond the context of the ongoing Iranian attacks. 

“This is the first time Bahrain will be represented at Miss Supranational and I look forward to showcasing Bahrain to the world – its rich history, beautiful landscapes, and warm, welcoming people,” Advaita, 30, told GulfWeekly.

“Bahrain has been my home for more than two decades, and in uncertain times like these, it is even more important to highlight the positive aspects of our country and what it has to offer.”

Advaita grew up in Manama and attended the New Indian School, winning her first pageant, May Queen, in 2012.

She later went on to be the first runner-up at Miss Universe Bahrain twice, honing her prowess at pageantry.

“I have always been passionate about pageantry,” she added.

“Having been placed as first runner-up at Miss Universe Bahrain twice, I was excited to take on this opportunity when it arose.

“Through this experience, I hope to put Bahrain on the global pageant map, create space for women from the Middle East who are often underrepresented and pave the way for more women from the GCC to shine in the pageant world.”

Off the catwalk, Advaita, a trained audiologist, also runs a non-profit initiative called ‘Can You Hear Me’, providing free hearing health workshops within the community.

“Through this initiative, I provide free hearing health screenings, workshops, and educational sessions across schools and communities,” she explained.

“I was especially honoured to return to my school in Bahrain recently to conduct a hearing health workshop.

“With the added exposure from the competition, I hope to expand the reach of this initiative and further raise awareness about the importance of hearing health.”

Miss Supranational emphasises contestants who are both inspirational and aspirational, producing winners who go beyond the crown and actively contribute to their communities.

Launched in 2009, it is also one of the few multi-gender pageants, running both Miss Supranational and Mr Supranational, providing a global platform for both women and men.

On this platform, amidst recent global headlines that focus on the impact of the ongoing conflict on the kingdom, she is hoping to show the world the Bahrain that has been special and close to her heart throughout her life.

“Competitions like Miss Supranational highlight the resilience of nations and their people, showing how we continue to move forward despite adversity,” she explained.

“There can often be misconceptions or fear surrounding countries affected by conflict, so platforms like this serve as a ray of hope, helping to foster understanding, unity and cultural exchange.”

For more details, follow @advaita31 on Instagram.