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| Hong Na-sil, winner of the 2016 Miss Korea beauty pageant |
Hong Na-sil seeks to promote beauty of Korea globally
By Park Jae-hyuk
Korea may be too small a place for Miss Korea winner Hong Na-sil to fully spread her wings.
Last year's winner of the nation's annual beauty pageant wants to let the whole world know the beauty of Korea.
As a part of her attempts, the 26-year-old will appear on the catwalk for New York Fashion Week next month.
"Given that modernized hanbok will hit the runway this year, my designer invited Miss Korea winners to join the show," she said during an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday.
Hanbok is traditional Korean clothes. As a representative of Korean beauty, Hong will promote hanbok's unique design in the world's most popular fashion show.
"It is a great honor for me to attend the New York fashion show, because every fashion model in Korea really eager to walk on the stage," she said. "I admit my height is not tall enough, compared to the show's other models who are taller than 175 centimeters at least."
Although Hong, who is 171 centimeters tall, denied her dream is to be a fashion model, she will attend London Fashion Week with the same designer as well, after staying in New York for a month.
"I think the shows will be great opportunities to promote the beauty of Korea," she said. "Miss Korea winners have had less chance to work internationally so far."
Based on her ability to speak Chinese and English, Hong said she wants to work in China someday.
"China has many K-pop fans and a lot of media," she said. "I heard Korean culture still maintains its popularity there, in spite of the recent political dispute between the two countries."
However, the Miss Korea winner does not focus only on her work overseas.
For her fans in Korea, Hong has played her roles in various fields, including emceeing several events, promoting Korean cosmetics products and throwing the first ball in baseball games.
As a graduate of Ewha Womans University's Department of Dance, she also performed modern dance at the exhibition of graffiti artist Shepard Fairey at the Seoul Arts Center earlier this year.
"My professor advised me to perform at the venue, as a Miss Korea winner and artist," she said.
Despite the various opportunities, the title of Miss Korea has sometimes weighed on her.
"Because I really love to eat, it was hard to watch my figure during the pageant," she said. "Nowadays, I exercise as much as I eat."
Hong said she likes to work out until she knocks herself out, rather than to do easy and comfortable exercises.
"I got training in boxing for a year," she said. "After continuously moving in the ring for three minutes, I can relieve my stress and lose my weight."
A negative public opinion on beauty pageants also weighed on her.
Some internet users in Korea have demanded the abolishment of the Miss Korea beauty pageant, regarding the event as the commercialization of sex.
"When I listen to those opinions, I try to work harder and better," she said. "Miss Korea winners have pride and a sense of duty to represent the country."
Hong believes the title of Miss Korea will be worthier if she tries her best in her field.
"In addition to the title of Miss Korea winner, I want to have another title," she said. "I am eager to be a great person in the field I work in."
Hoping to interact with more people, Hong aims to be an announcer.
"I want more people to be moved with my stories and to remember the name of Hong Na-sil," she said. "If I become a person who is enough to be proud of, I think the title of Miss Korea winner will shine more."
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