In the history of beauty pageants, a few moments stand as monumental as Albania’s historic win at the finale of Miss Earth 2023, which was held on 22nd December 2023 at Van Phúc City in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Drita Ziri's win, with grace, poise, and an unwavering commitment to environmental causes, made a strong mark at the pageant.

At 18 years of age, Drita has created multiple histories, most importantly being the youngest ever delegate to be crowned Miss Earth. She is Albania’s first winner and the second Balkan after Džejla Glavovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina who won Miss Earth in 2002.

Drita is also the first Albanian winner to win the first ever major international beauty pageant. Miss Earth 2023 was not her stint, as she was previously crowned Miss Shqipëria 2022. As Miss Shqipëria, she earned the right to represent Albania at The Miss Globe 2022. At the Miss Globe 2022, she won the Miss Bikini award and Miss Photogenic voted by the public, and placed as the second runner-up.

Drita was a front-runner for the crown along with the representatives of Netherlands and Philippines. Her breast awareness campaign garnered her a lot of attention in the right way making her a potential winner for the crown.

Drita nailed the Q/A round as well at the finale where she was asked, “An official at the recent climate conference was quoted as saying there is no science behind the phaseout of fossil fuels. Do you agree with this? Why or why not?"

Ziri answered, “I do believe that a lot that's happening to our Earth right now regarding also this problem is because of people is because of unawareness is because of not thinking that they do really have the impact to do the undoing, to actually make progress in this world."

Drita Ziri’s victory will forever be scripted as a transformative moment not just for Albania but a testament to the power of determination, resilience and a commitment to a better, greener world.