In a moment that stirred both pride and emotion across the continent, 19-year-old Hasset Dereje from Ethiopia has been crowned Miss World Africa 2025 after emerging as the first runner-up at the global Miss World finals.
It’s more than just a crown — it’s a full-circle moment for Ethiopia. For the first time in over two decades, the country is seeing its flag raised high on the Miss World stage. Not since 2003, when Hayat Ahmed cracked the top 20 and became Ethiopia’s first Miss World Africa, has the nation felt this surge of joy from the pageant world.
But this wasn’t just a win for Ethiopia. Hasset walked into that global arena and made it a win for all of Africa.
Balancing brains and beauty with a quiet fierceness, Hasset is currently studying Chemical Engineering at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. Yes, while she was dazzling international judges and making history, she was also navigating the rigors of one of the most challenging degrees. Grace under pressure doesn’t even begin to describe it.
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She stood tall through every elimination round, each time pushing forward with a kind of determination you don’t just see — you feel. And when the final results were announced, her message on Instagram didn’t speak of personal victory — it spoke of purpose.
“This title is not just mine,” she wrote, “It belongs to Africa.”
That single sentence has since echoed across social platforms, reminding many of what representation can look like and feel like, when it’s done with heart.
She thanked her family and her aunt in a deeply personal tribute that left fans teary-eyed and proud. But she’s not just soaking in the applause, Hasset is already setting her sights on what comes next. She’s made it clear that her mission is about more than crowns or sashes. It’s about challenging perceptions, amplifying African voices, and telling new stories.
In a world hungry for authentic role models, Hasset Dereje is more than a beauty queen. She’s a symbol of resilience, grace, and what happens when a young African woman steps fully into her light.
