Thet San Andersen

Thet San Andersen (သက်စံအန်ဒါဆန်; born 23 May 2000) is a Burmese fashion designer and beauty pageant titleholder. She is the founder of Seint Studio and is set to represent Myanmar in the upcoming Miss Universe 2024 competition.

Early life
Thet San Andersen was born on 23 May 2000 in Malmö, Sweden. She has a mixed heritage, with a Burmese mother and a Swedish father, which has influenced her multicultural approach to fashion and design.

Fashion Design
Andersen began her career in fashion design by working in various design related roles, notably as a visual merchandiser (VM) for renowned brands like Tiger of Sweden. She later established Seint Studio, a brand known for its innovative and inclusive designs. Her work often reflects her diverse background and aims to blend traditional Burmese elements with a contemporary international aesthetic.

Miss Face of Teen Sweden 2012
In 2012, Andersen represented Sweden in the Miss Face of Teen Sweden competition. Her unique look and cultural heritage have made her a standout contestant.

Miss Universe Yangon 2024
On April 3, 2024, Andersen competed in the Miss Universe Yangon 2024 competition and was crowned Miss Universe Yangon North 2024.

Miss Universe Myanmar 2024
Following her success in Yangon, Andersen participated in the grand final of Miss Universe Myanmar 2024 on June 7, 2024. At the coronation night, she advanced to the top six, where she was asked, "What is the biggest challenge in life, and how did you overcome that challenge?" She responded:

"I believe my biggest challenge in life is that I've always been seen as different. I grew up in another country with a mother from Myanmar and a father from Sweden. I was always different and saw it as an issue that I couldn't fit in. But I learned how to overcome these difficulties, gain more confidence, and love myself. I realized that what I thought was a weakness was actually my strength. So, be different and embrace it."

At the end of the event, Andersen was named as the winner and was crowned by outgoing titleholder Amara Bo. She earned several other titles as well while becoming the first Anglo-Burmese people to represent Myanmar at Miss Universe.

Miss Universe 2024
Andersen will represent Myanmar at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant, to be held in Mexico.

Advocacy
Thet San Andersen is a strong advocate for the importance of cultural exchange and self-sufficiency in education in Myanmar.

Cultural Exchange
In an interview where she was asked what she would promote from her homeland on the international stage, Thet San Andersen stated,:

"I would promote Myanmar's rich cultural heritage by showcasing our arts, music, and dance forms. This is because I believe cultural exchange promotes and fosters appreciation of diverse communities, promoting unity and harmony on a global scale."

Self-Sufficiency in Education
Thet San Andersen advocates for self-sufficiency and sustainable development in education. In an interview, she highlighted the economic challenges faced by today's youth, stating,:

"I believe that today's youth struggle with today's economy and get in debt at an early age. I believe that it's hard for younger people to find financial resources without getting help from parents or taking loans from banks, which is not always easy access for everyone. Even an average middle-class person struggles with economic changes like early inflation."

Andersen supports programs aimed at empowering local communities with the tools and resources needed to enhance educational infrastructure and teaching quality. Her goal is to enable young people in Myanmar to access quality education and reach their full potential.

Collaboration with Star Fish Education
Andersen collaborated with Star Fish Education on the project "Unlock Your Future: Master the Art of Scholarship Application." She selected and awarded 10 scholarships to participants attending her English classes at Star Fish Education. Additionally, she held a seminar at the Summit Parkview Hotel on June 14.

Riksinsamlingen för Världens Barn
In September 2016, Thet San Andersen participated in the annual Swedish national radio program project Musikhjälpen representing Myanmar as a choir participant for the project: "Children in war have the right to go to school."

During this event, they were able to raise 49,003,745 SEK (equivalent to 5,397,027 USD in 2016).

Personal life
Thet San Andersen is proud of her mixed heritage and often speaks about the importance of embracing cultural diversity. She uses her platform to promote education for youth in myanmar and representation in both fashion and beauty industries.