CNI News
May 5, 2026
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture is coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs to take action against those responsible for organizing the pageant, as well as Ei Mon Lwin, who competed by walking a model runway while wearing a Buddhist nun’s attire in the Miss Grand Myanmar pageant, the ministry told CNI News.
In the beauty pageant organized by the Miss Grand Myanmar Organization, Ei Mon Lwin from Tachileik competed wearing a nun's outfit.
Following this, she was selected as the titleholder for MGM-05 Miss Grand Tachileik 2026.
The public has called for legal action against both the competitor, Ei Mon Lwin, and the event organizers, leading to rising criticism across social media platforms.
Regarding this issue, the Ministry of Religious Affairs stated:
National Director U Maran Seng Naw of the Miss Grand Myanmar Organization is pictured.
"In response to the video files circulating on social media showing Tachileik contestant Ei Mon Lwin wearing the robe of a Theravada Buddhist nun while walking a model runway in the Miss Grand Myanmar pageant, a request was made to the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 5, 2026, to coordinate, investigate, and take necessary action against the contestant Ei Mon Lwin as well as the relevant organizers of this pageant."
According to sources, this incident could fall under Section 295/295(A) of the Penal Code for insulting religion, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment.
Furthermore, Section 364 of the 2008 Constitution states that the abuse of religion for political purposes is forbidden. It also specifies that any act intended or likely to promote feelings of hatred, enmity, or discord between different communities or sects on grounds of race or religion is contrary to the Constitution, and laws may be enacted to punish such acts.
