Maya Reaidy

Reaidy was born and raised in Tannourine. She went to Jesus and Mary Collège, then to an Evangelical School in Lebanon.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/lebanon/femme-magazine/20181103/284000423233176|title=Miss Liban Maya Reaidy|work=Femme Magazine |language=French|date=3 November 2018}} She studied pharmacy at Lebanese American University in Beirut.{{cite web|url=https://www.zahratalkhaleej.ae/Gallery/558765/%C2%AB%D9%85%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-2018%C2%BB-%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A-%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%B2%D9%82-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%81%D8%B2%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A8-%C2%AB%D9%85%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D9%88%D9%86%C2%BB|title="ملكة جمال لبنان 2018" مايا رعيدي: جورجينا رزق تحفزني إلى لقب "ملكة جمال الكون"|work=Zahrat Alkhaleej|language=Arabic|date=11 October 2018}} Reaidy is a ballet dancer, enjoys practicing yoga and declares herself to be a vegetarian. She credited Amal Clooney as being one of the inspiring public figures she admires the most for her fight for women's rights.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/lebanon/femme-magazine/20181103/284000423233176|title=Miss Liban Maya Reaidy|work=Femme Magazine |language=French|date=3 November 2018}} She now resides in London, United Kingdom.

On May 5, 2024, she married her fiancé in London.{{Cite web |last=Reaidy |first=Maya |date=May 5, 2024 |title=In your arms, I found my "I do". 🤍04/05🤍 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C6mSGFLoQKB/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=www.instagram.com}} The identity of her husband has not been revealed.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-07 |title=Maya Reaidy's Elegant London Wedding |url=https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/hbanews/maya-reaidys-elegant-london-wedding |access-date=2024-08-06 |language=en-US}}

Reaidy was crowned as Miss Lebanon 2018 held at the Forum de Beyrouth on September 30, 2018 and broadcast on MTV Lebanon.{{cite web |url=https://www.mtv.com.lb/en/News/Local/855655/Miss_Universe_jury_Maya_Reaidy_wins_first_place|title=Miss Universe jury: Maya Reaidy wins first place|publisher=MTV |access-date= 8 October 2018}} At the question round, Reaidy was asked by composer Guy Manoukian what makes her different from other candidates. She replied: What sets me apart from other candidates is that I am a diplomatic person. I try to understand people instead of criticizing. This sets me apart especially in today's society. In the top 5, Reaidy was asked what was her biggest failure in life. She answered that failure was a necessary step in life in order to succeed.{{cite web|url=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1136691/maya-reaidy-sacree-miss-liban-2018.html|title=Maya Reaidy sacrée Miss Liban 2018|work=L'Orient-Le Jour |language=French|date=1 October 2018}} The judging panel consisted of TV host George Kurdahi, singer Nancy Ajram, Miss Lebanon 2004 Nadine Nassib Njeim, actor Adel Karam, designer Nicolas Jebran, composer Guy Manoukian and Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, among others. Reaidy wore a sky blue feathered dress designed by Nicolas Jebran. She succeeded Miss Lebanon 2017, Perla Helou.{{cite web |url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1380541/fashion|title=Maya Reaidy crowned Miss Lebanon 2018|website=arabnews.com |access-date= 1 October 2018}} After the show, Lebanese social media users compared her to Georgina Rizk, the only Lebanese beauty queen to win the title of Miss Universe in 1971.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/fashion/the-new-miss-lebanon-looks-just-like-her-most-famous-predecessor-1971-s-miss-universe-1.775715|title=The new Miss Lebanon looks just like her most famous predecessor: 1971's Miss Universe|publisher=The National|last=McFarlane|first=Nyree|accessdate=1 October 2018}} It has been pointed out that Reaidy and Miss Russia 2018 Yulia Polyachikhina bear a striking resemblance.{{cite web|url=https://stepfeed.com/beauty-standards-in-2018-lebanon-and-russia-elect-same-beauty-queen-4282|title=Beauty standards in 2018: Lebanon and Russia elect same beauty queen?|publisher=Step Feed|accessdate=5 October 2018}}

Reaidy wants to use the Miss Lebanon platform to be a women's rights advocate and to increase knowledge and awareness of women who are unaware of their rights in Lebanon, emphasizing that Lebanese mothers cannot pass on their nationalities to their children.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/lebanon/femme-magazine/20181103/284000423233176|title=Miss Liban Maya Reaidy|work=Femme Magazine |language=French|date=3 November 2018}} As Miss Lebanon, she is also involved in the Step Together Association, supporting the protection of the rights of children with special needs and participating in activities with the students. Reaidy was invited to the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Lebanon and met with the ambassador H.E. Dr. Hamad Bin Saeed Al Shamsi in order to participate in the launching of a new initiative to spread awareness about breast cancer.{{cite web|url=http://desktop.beiruting.com/LeMag/Miss_Lebanon_2018_Maya_Reaidy_at_the_UAE_Embassy/10162|title=Miss Lebanon 2018 Maya Reaidy at the UAE Embassy|work=Beiruting.com |language=English|date=21 October 2018}}

On October 1, 2018, Reaidy's first television appearance was on Menna W Jerr TV show hosted by Pierre Rabbat and broadcast on MTV (Lebanon). Reaidy is featured on her first cover magazine for women's lifestyle magazine Zahrat Al Khaleej, appearing alongside former Miss USA Rima Fakih and Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters.{{cite web|url=https://www.zahratalkhaleej.ae/Gallery/558766/%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%81%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%C2%AB%D9%85%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A7%C2%BB-%D8%BA%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%8A|title=ريما فقيه: انتخابي "ملكة جمال أميركا" غير حياتي|work=Zahrat Al Khaleej|language=Arabic|date=11 October 2018}} As part of her Miss Universe preparation, Reaidy flew to Los Angeles for one week of intensive training organized by Miss Lebanon Director Rima Fakih, including photoshoots, wardrobe fittings and casting call at Arab American Casting. She was given motivational speeches by Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton, Miss Guam Universe 2010 Brittany Bell and Miss Wyoming USA 2010 Claire Schreiner. On November 3, 2018, she was featured on the cover of Femme Magazine.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/lebanon/femme-magazine/20181103/284000423233176|title=Miss Liban Maya Reaidy|work=Femme Magazine |language=French|date=3 November 2018}}

Reaidy represented Lebanon at Miss Universe 2018 pageant in Bangkok, Thailand.{{cite web|url=https://www.missuniverse.com/contestant/1000513|title=Meet the Miss Universe Contestants|work=Miss Universe Organization|accessdate=25 October 2018}} Out of 94 contestants, Miss Lebanon and Miss Egypt were the only contestants from the Arab world competing in the 67th edition of Miss Universe.{{cite web|url=http://emirateswoman.com/miss-universe-2018/|title=Two Arab contestants have made it to the Miss Universe 2018 final|work=Emirates Woman|language=English|date=10 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/on-stage/miss-universe-2018-the-two-contestants-from-the-arab-world-vying-for-the-crown-1.800610|title=Miss Universe 2018: The two contestants from the Arab world vying for the crown|work=The National|language=English|date=9 December 2018}} At the Evening Gown Preliminary Competition, Miss Universe Lebanon 2018 wore a silver and light purple dress designed by Nicolas Jebran.{{cite web|url=https://beautypageants.indiatimes.com/Miss-Universe-2018-Preliminary-Competition-Gown-round/eventshow/67091805.cms|title=Miss Universe 2018: Preliminary Competition Gown round|work=Femina Miss India|language=English|date=14 December 2018}} At the National Costume Show, Reaidy chose to represent her homeland by paying tribute to the cedar tree and wore a metallic gold bodysuit with arm pieces and matching thigh-high boots.{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2018/12/11/miss-universe-2018-national-costumes-pics-photos/|title=Miss Universe 2018: See All The Beauties In Their National Costumes — Gorgeous Pics|work=Hollywood Life|language=English|date=11 December 2018|access-date=29 December 2018|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411022614/https://hollywoodlife.com/2018/12/11/miss-universe-2018-national-costumes-pics-photos/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1420171/fashion|title=The Six: Arab beauty queens show off national costumes at the Miss Universe show|newspaper=Arab News|language=English|date=29 December 2018}}

On January 11, 2019, she appeared as a guest on Beit el Kell entertainment show presented by Adel Karam to clarify the controversy.{{cite web|url=https://specialmagazine.co/en/details/rima-fakih-vs-maya-reaidy|title= RIMA FAKIH VS. MAYA REAIDY Who's right and who's wrong?|work=Spécial Madame Figaro|language=English|date=13 January 2019}}

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Category:1995 births

Category:Living people

Category:Miss Universe 2018 contestants

Category:Lebanese female models

Category:Lebanese beauty pageant winners

Category:Lebanese people of Russian descent

Category:Lebanese Christians

Category:21st-century pharmacists

Category:People from Tannourine

Category:Women pharmacists

Category:Lebanese University alumni