Brazil made history on 25th October 2022 at Sentul International Convention Center in West Jawa, Indonesia where Isabella Menin was crowned Miss Grand International 2022. She became the first Brazilian to win the MGI crown.
Family Background
Born on 2nd June 1996, Isabella is of mixed heritage; she is of Italian and Brazilian descent. Isabella was born in a business family in Marília. Pageantry runs in her blood as her mother, Adriana Novaes, is a former Miss Marília winner and has competed at various pageants. Her grandmother, and great-grandmother also were former pageant winners.
Isabella is also the great-granddaughter of businessman, Lazaro Ramos Novaes, and granddaughter of Alfredo Novaes, two of the biggest names in the early industrialization of Marília.
Education
Isabella studied the business and managerial economics program at an London-based independent school, David Game College from 2015-2016. She, then, graduated first-class honors, obtaining a bachelor’s degree of Economics from University of Westminster in 2019.
Isabella earned a master's degree in Finance from University College London in 2020. Before competing at Miss Grand Brazil 2022, the Brazilian beauty worked as an international model. She also worked as a paraplanner for Thomson Tyndall, a financial planning and investment management private firm in the United Kingdom.
Pageantry
Isabella entered the beauty pageant world at the age of three with the encouragement and support of her mother. She has won several mini-miss titles including Miss Goiás, Miss Student of Marilia, Miss Teen Marilia, and Miss Teen São Paulo. She also won Miss Teen International in 2013.
Her first big national pageant was winning Miss Grand Brazil 2022 where she represented Alto Cafezal. Representing Brazil at Miss Grand International 2022, Isabella Menin created history for her country.
Advocacy
Isabella also established a charitable organization named Beyond Project, which supports associations for people with disabilities in Brazil. The project will first begin in Brazil and then aim to spread globally. The main aim is to help improve infrastructure and provide essential equipment for the disabled, in addition to contributing to their basic needs, all for the benefit of the assisted institutions.
“We also plan to organize events for people with disabilities that will offer speeches of influential guests, self-knowledge teachers and practice of meditation techniques. We will provide a warm and welcoming environment for participants to learn new perspectives and meet new people. Our mission is to create a community where people's experiences go beyond the event”, as stated on the official website.
Journey as Miss Grand International 2022
For Isabella Menin, the win at Miss Grand International 2023 was personal as beauty pageants have been a part of her heritage for generations; her grandmother and her mother were beauty queens as well.
Menin used her platform as an opportunity to be a voice for so many people and fight for different advocacies worldwide including her personal one which is to help people with disabilities. Her journey has been incredible as she impressed everyone around the globe with hard work, perseverance, and unforgettable experiences that have shaped her into the person she is today.
Using her experiences, Menin will soon be launching her own makeup line which will use techniques primarily used in beauty pageants and incorporate it in day-to-day life. She will also make her presence known in the entertainment industry, such as acting. Menin will also continue to use her platform to advocate for important causes.