Maya Reaidy (, born 14 November 1995) is a Lebanese model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Lebanon 2018. She represented

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

at the

Miss Universe 2018 Miss Universe 2018 was the 67th Miss Universe pageant, held at the Impact, Muang Thong Thani, Impact Arena in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, Thailand, on 17 December 2018. At the conclusion of the event, Demi-Leigh Tebow, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of Sout ...

pageant in

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

Personal life

Reaidy was born and raised in

Tannourine Tannourine (, also Tannoureen, Tannorine) is a Lebanese town located in the Batroun District, part of the Governorate of North Lebanon, 80 km from the capital Beirut. Tannourine is formed by a cluster of mountain settlements located in the h ...

. She went to Jesus and Mary Collège, then to an Evangelical School in Lebanon. She studied

pharmacy Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medication, medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it ...

Lebanese American University The Lebanese American University (LAU; ) is a secular private American university with campuses in Beirut, Byblos, and New York. It is chartered by the board of regents of the University of the State of New York and is recognized by the Lebane ...

Beirut Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...

. Reaidy is a ballet dancer, enjoys practicing yoga and declares herself to be a vegetarian. She credited

Amal Clooney Amal Clooney (; born ) is a British International human rights law, international human rights lawyer. She has represented several high-profile clients, including former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, form ...

as being one of the inspiring public figures she admires the most for her fight for women's rights. She now resides in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. On May 5, 2024, she married her fiancé in London. The identity of her husband has not been revealed.

Pageantry

Miss Lebanon 2018

Reaidy was crowned as Miss Lebanon 2018 held at the Forum de Beyrouth on September 30, 2018 and broadcast on

MTV Lebanon Murr Television, marketed and known as MTV Lebanon, is a Lebanese television station based in Naccache, Metn District. It was founded in 1991 by businessman Gabriel Murr Gabriel Murr (; born 26 February 1939) is a Lebanese politician and ...

. At the question round, Reaidy was asked by composer

Guy Manoukian Guy Manoukian (, Western Armenian Կի Մանուկեան, ) (born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1976

what makes her different from other candidates. She replied: ''What sets me apart from other candidates is that I am a diplomatic person. I try to understand people instead of criticizing. This sets me apart especially in today's society''. In the top 5, Reaidy was asked what was her biggest failure in life. She answered that failure was a necessary step in life in order to succeed. The judging panel consisted of TV host

George Kurdahi George Fouad Kordahi (; born 1 May 1950) is a Lebanese TV presenter and former host of the Arabic version of ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?''. Education Kordahi was educated at the Notre Dame de Louayzeh College (Keserwan). He studied Politic ...

, singer

Nancy Ajram Nancy Nabil Ajram (, ; born May 16, 1983) is a Lebanese singer, television personality, and businesswoman, dubbed by Spotify as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Arab Pop". With the support of her father, she began performing ...

, Miss Lebanon 2004

Nadine Nassib Njeim Nadine Nassib Njeim (; born 7 February 1984) is a Lebanese actress and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Lebanon 2004. She represented Lebanon at Miss Universe 2005 in Thailand. Background Njeim was born in Beirut to a Lebanese Maronit ...

, actor

Adel Karam Adel Karam (; born 20 August 1972) is a Lebanese actor, comedian and TV presenter. Career Karam started his acting career with the comedy show "S.L.CHI" at MTV Lebanon in 1990s, which later became a film, ''S.L.Film'', in 2000. He later starred ...

, designer Nicolas Jebran, composer

Guy Manoukian Guy Manoukian (, Western Armenian Կի Մանուկեան, ) (born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1976

and

Miss Universe 2017 Miss Universe 2017 was the 66th Miss Universe pageant, held at The AXIS in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on 26 November 2017. At the end of the event, Iris Mittenaere of France crowned Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters of South Africa as Miss Unive ...

Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters Demi-Leigh Tebow ( ; née Nel-Peters; born 28 June 1995) is a South African model and beauty queen best known for winning the title of Miss Universe 2017. She was crowned Miss South Africa 2017, and the second Miss Universe winner from South ...

, among others. Reaidy wore a sky blue feathered dress designed by Nicolas Jebran. She succeeded Miss Lebanon 2017,

Perla Helou {{Infobox pageant titleholder , name = Perla Helou , image = Perla Helou, MTV Lebanon - Feb 8, 2020.jpg , caption = Perla Helou on MTV Lebanon, 8 February 2020 , birth_name = Perla Helou , birth_date = {{birth date and age, 1995, ...

. After the show, Lebanese social media users compared her to

Georgina Rizk Georgina Rizk () (born 3 January 1953) is a Lebanese model, socialite and beauty queen. She represented Lebanon and won Miss Universe 1971, making her the first Lebanese woman to win that title and the first Arab winner in the history of the com ...

, the only Lebanese beauty queen to win the title of Miss Universe in 1971. It has been pointed out that Reaidy and Miss Russia 2018 Yulia Polyachikhina bear a striking resemblance. Reaidy wants to use the Miss Lebanon platform to be a women's rights advocate and to increase knowledge and awareness of women who are unaware of their rights in Lebanon, emphasizing that Lebanese mothers cannot pass on their nationalities to their children. As Miss Lebanon, she is also involved in the ''Step Together Association'', supporting the protection of the rights of children with special needs and participating in activities with the students. Reaidy was invited to the

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a Federal monarchy, federal elective monarchy made up of Emirates of the United Arab E ...

Embassy in Lebanon and met with the ambassador H.E. Dr. Hamad Bin Saeed Al Shamsi in order to participate in the launching of a new initiative to spread awareness about breast cancer. On October 1, 2018, Reaidy's first television appearance was on ''Menna W Jerr'' TV show hosted by Pierre Rabbat and broadcast on

MTV (Lebanon) Murr Television, marketed and known as MTV Lebanon, is a Lebanon, Lebanese television station based in Naccache, Metn District. It was founded in 1991 by businessman Gabriel Murr (brother of Lebanese politician Michel Murr) as an independent ch ...

. Reaidy is featured on her first cover magazine for women's lifestyle magazine ''Zahrat Al Khaleej'', appearing alongside former

Miss USA Miss USA is an American beauty pageant that has been held annually since 1952 to select the entrant from United States in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operated both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA, until 2020. ...

Rima Fakih Rima Fakih Slaiby (; born September 22, 1985) is an American former professional wrestler and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss USA 2010. Having previously been crowned Miss Michigan USA 2010, Fakih was the first Arab American wo ...

and

. As part of her Miss Universe preparation, Reaidy flew to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

for one week of intensive training organized by Miss Lebanon Director

, including photoshoots, wardrobe fittings and casting call at ''Arab American Casting''. She was given motivational speeches by

Miss USA 2009 Miss USA 2009 was the 58th Miss USA pageant, held at the Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts in Paradise, Nevada, on April 19, 2009. At the conclusion of the final night of competition, Kristen Dalton (Miss USA), Kristen Dalton of Mi ...

Kristen Dalton, Miss Guam Universe 2010 Brittany Bell and

Miss Wyoming USA The Miss Wyoming USA competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state Wyoming in the Miss USA pageant. It is, , produced by Future Productions based in Savage, Minnesota since 2005. Wyoming has placed twice in Miss USA ...

2010 Claire Schreiner. On November 3, 2018, she was featured on the cover of ''Femme Magazine''.

Miss Universe 2018

Reaidy represented Lebanon at

pageant in

. Out of 94 contestants,

Miss Lebanon Miss Lebanon () is the national beauty pageant of Lebanon. The winner is a representative of the Ministry of Tourism (Lebanon), Ministry of Tourism and is sent to represent Lebanon at Miss Universe and Miss World. History Since 1995, the pagea ...

and

Miss Egypt Miss Egypt () is a national beauty pageant in Egypt. As of 2024, two competitions are held annually, Miss Universe Egypt and Miss Egypt Bent Masr. History Early years The first Miss Egypt contest was held in 1927. Charlotte Wassef won the co ...

were the only contestants from the Arab world competing in the 67th edition of

Miss Universe Miss Universe is an annual international major beauty pageant that is run by a Thailand and Mexican-based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stree ...

. At the Evening Gown Preliminary Competition, Miss Universe Lebanon 2018 wore a silver and light purple dress designed by Nicolas Jebran. At the National Costume Show, Reaidy chose to represent her homeland by paying tribute to the cedar tree and wore a metallic gold bodysuit with arm pieces and matching thigh-high boots. On January 11, 2019, she appeared as a guest on ''Beit el Kell'' entertainment show presented by Adel Karam to clarify the controversy.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reaidy, Maya 1995 births Living people Miss Universe 2018 contestants Lebanese female models Lebanese beauty pageant winners Lebanese people of Russian descent Lebanese Christians 21st-century pharmacists People from Tannourine Women pharmacists Lebanese University alumni