Myanmar beauty queen Silimee dies in 7.7-magnitude earthquake

Miss Tourism Myanmar 2018 Silimee. Photo from Miss Tourism Myanmar's Facebook

"Miss Tourism Myanmar 2018 Silimee, who represented Myanmar in the Miss Tourism World 2018 competition, tragically passed away in the aftermath of the earthquake on March 28, 2025," confirmed the Miss Tourism Myanmar organization in a statement released on its Facebook page on Wednesday. "Silimee was trapped in the collapse of the Sky Villa in Mandalay during the earthquake and was found dead by rescue teams on April 2, 2025."

The earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 7.7 according to the United States Geological Survey, struck central Myanmar on March 28. Tremors were felt across neighboring countries, including Thailand, Vietnam, and parts of China. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra called an emergency meeting in response to the disaster.

According to The New York Times, Sky Villa, a 12-storey condominium complex built in 2017, was one of the most severely impacted sites, despite being marketed for its "earthquake-resistant foundation." The complex housed the largest rooftop bar in Mandalay and a gym with state-of-the-art equipment before its collapse.

As of Thursday, the death toll from the earthquake has risen to 3,085, according to Reuters.