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As an activist, Sofia Sarkis is no stranger to delivering emotional speeches on the microphone.
But this week, she’s working on curls and 6-inch highs.
The mother-of-three is a finalist in the Miss Universe Australia pageant, a pageant for married or married women.
“This is not about beauty… I entered this competition because I want to be a voice for my people,” she said.
Ms Sarkis was born in Burma – now Myanmar – but has lived in Australia for the past 28 years and calls western Sydney home.
After February 1 last year, when a military junta took control of her homeland and jailed Myanmar’s democratically elected leaders, Ms Sarkis emerged as one of those who opposed the coup.
“Some people join the People’s Defense Forces and pick up guns and fight. Some people go out into the streets and shout for democracy,” she said.
“But for me, I live in a country where I can speak freely.
“Yes, I wear a beautiful gown and represent myself in a beauty pageant, but I have used this platform to speak for the cause of the country.”
Ms. Sarkis is not alone in using beauty and fashion to shed light on the ugly truth of military rule in her home country.
Burmese beauty queens have used their platforms to raise awareness of the dire situation in the country, and the issue was recently highlighted on the runway at New York Fashion Week.
But speaking out can be dangerous – last year at Miss Grand Myanmar Han gave an emotional speech about how people die under military rule.
She was arrested in Thailand last month. Human rights groups feared she would be deported to Myanmar, where she faced danger and imprisonment, but she was quickly granted asylum in Canada.
Ms Sarkis said her family members had to go into hiding because of her activism, but she was not deterred.
“One of the reasons I continue this fight is for my dear friend Phyo Zea Tau, whose life was brutally murdered.”
The former rapper and politician was executed along with three other political prisoners in July, sparking international outrage.
“I’m heartbroken. He was only 41. And he doesn’t deserve it – nobody deserves it – especially in this century.
“I want to avenge his death. His death will not be forgotten by me or by others.”
Burma Prints Favors New York Runway
As a fashion designer, Engjin San has vowed never to wear a black T-shirt on the runway – she always wants to express her style and show off her collection.
“I never wanted to wear a black T-shirt…but, for my show this year, I did just that,” she said.
At New York Fashion Week, she wore a simple outfit emblazoned with the words, “Everything’s gonna be alright.”
Kyal Sin, also known as “Angel”, who was shot dead in the weeks following the coup, wore a black T-shirt with the same phrase to commemorate her.
“We are all very heartbroken. She was just 19 years old. She did nothing wrong,” Ms Sun said.
On the runway, Ms San also flashed the three-fingered salute – the Hunger Games symbol of youth protest against Myanmar’s military rule.
“I wanted to talk about the story behind it, and I want to honor all the young people in Burma… still fighting this dictatorship in this revolution,” she said.
“I wanted to show them my support and I want them to know that I am with them.”
That’s why all of her New York Fashion Week collections have a Burmese theme—her models are dressed in colorful patterns that evoke her homeland.
They put up banners with messages saying: “Justice for Burma,” “Hold the Myanmar junta accountable,” and “Fashion is inherently political.”
“My whole collection is dedicated to Burma. I really wanted to use something… so I decided to use Acheck,” she said.
It is a traditional textile design often worn on floor-length dresses called longyi at weddings and ceremonies, depicting rolling waves, floral vines, or clouds and lightning.
But MS San’s designs have a modern slant, combining the material with innovative pieces and striking silhouettes.
“I wanted to present it in a way that people haven’t seen it… I wanted to blend in with Western culture.”
Seeing the country fall under military control brought back painful memories for Ms. San of past coups and revolutions.
It was disappointing to see the crisis in Myanmar fall off the world’s radar, but her designs brought the issue to a new audience in fashion circles.
“I’m trying to be true to myself. I love fashion, I love creating and I love making clothes,” she says.
“I wanted to really talk about it the best way I could.”
Fighting for democracy in a beautiful gown
The “world peace” mantra has become a staple in the beauty pageant world.
For Sofia Sarkis, who is deeply traumatized by the violence in her country.
In recent years there has been hope for a fledgling democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi, but now many of the country’s youth have fled to the jungles to oppose their military oppressors.
“I can’t imagine my children abandoning me… picking up a gun, going to training and being ready to die for the country,” she said.
“As a mother, it breaks my heart. I would probably join them because enough is enough. This military decision has to stop.”
Ms Sarkis has spoken at rallies, met with politicians and spoken at parliamentary hearings, but she says no concrete action has been forthcoming.
The numbers are grim: more than 2,300 people have been killed by the junta since the coup, according to the Association for the Support of Political Prisoners, and more than 15,000 have been imprisoned.
More than 1.3 million people were displaced, 28,000 homes were destroyed, and villages were set on fire.
Last month, Australian economist Shane Turnell, an adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi, was sentenced to three years in prison by a military court in what Human Rights Watch described as “politically motivated” and “brutal injustice”.
Suu Kyi, 77, faces 26 years in prison and parole, the latest in a long string of prison sentences this week.
But Ms. Sarkis said she was often met with silence when she talked about bombings, burning villages and conflicts, and it could leave the general public feeling anxious or exhausted.
“Every morning I wake up thinking how can I help my country? How can I save my country? What can I do?”
“People don’t like to hear all about politicians… because it’s boring.”
She decided to mix “fashion with sensibility” and says that a little glitz and glamor helps her get across a deeper message.
“We need help. We need other communities to support, come and join us in making as much noise as we can for the Australian government to take action against the military junta.”
Ms Sarkis and other activists want to see concrete action taken.
Ms Sarkis said Australia should recognize the Government of National Unity (a coalition of elected politicians, anti-coup opposition and tribal leaders) and not engage with the military.
“The Australian government should impose sanctions on the military – this is very important,” she said.
They use that money to buy weapons and kill our people, our innocent people.
She also wants to see the government issue more humanitarian visas to refugees who have fled and are stuck at the Thai border.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement that it rejected Professor Turnell’s conviction and that sanctions against members of the military regime were “being carefully considered”.
A spokesman for DFAT said: “It would not be appropriate to discuss specific people or entities that may be considered for sanctions.” It allows them to move any property outside of Australian territory.
The Miss Universe Australia crowning event will take place on Friday 21 October.
Other contestants are using the opportunity to highlight issues close to their hearts – from speaking out about surviving domestic violence to advocating for children with autism.
Although she took home the crown, Ms. Sarkis was given the honorary title of Ms. Universe Myanmar in recognition of her activism and the dire situation in the country.
“For me, it doesn’t matter if I win the crown or not,” she said.
“I will still help and fight for the country to get justice, until democracy is restored.”
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