A beauty queen, Khanittha Phasaeng from Thailand has emerged as the winner in a national beauty pageant competition called Miss Uncensored News Thailand and has admitted that she used to be a garbage collector.

17-year-old Khanittha “Mint” Phasaeng has been helping her mother to collect garbage in order to support themselves. She also had to give up her studies after her sixth year in high school, as her mother couldn’t afford her school fees.

With her mother’s encouragement, Ms Kanistha decided to join the Miss Uncensored News Thailand beauty pageant competition in an attempt to get back to school and help support her family.

Thai media reports have said that she is not ashamed that she used to be a garbage collector and is thankful for her mother’s sacrifices. It was also reported that her mother’s hard-earned money made it possible for her to enter the competition.

Kanistha paid respect and showed her gratitude towards her mother by kneeling down at her feet while still wearing her crown, sash and dress from the competition when she returned home.

She said: “I will still help my mother to collect garbage when I’m free even though she is unwilling to let me do it.”

Ms Kanistha reportedly already received a job offer as an actress.

However, it was later revealed that she had faked her educational background in her application, sparking rumours that she would lose her crown and prize money.

She had beforehand tearfully asked for forgiveness for the mistake, and did so again at a recent press conference, reports The Nation.

The pageant’s panel, however, decided not to rescind her prizes as the contest intended to provide chances for people from all walks of life, regardless of gender or education.