By Honorary Reporter Seema Thomas from India
Photos = Laura-Mai Schults

For Laura-Mai Schults, a 25-year-old Estonian student and YouTuber, her fascination with Hallyu (Korean Wave) led to her making history as the first foreign contestant to finish among the finalists of the Miss Chunhyang beauty pageant on April 30.

The contest was held as part of the longstanding Chunhyang Festival in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do Province, an event that honors the loyalty and devotion of Chunhyang, a heroine in a classic love story. Schults won sixth place. 

In an email interview from May 3-6, she spoke of how she grew interested in Korea and life there.

Laura-Mai Schults finishes sixth in the pageant with the title of Miss Chunhyang Hyun.

Her interest in Korea began in 2015, when she was introduced to K-pop sensation BTS by a friend. "Since I was a huge Michael Jackson fan, I liked how the boys danced like him," she said. 

Her interest in K-pop evolved into a deeper appreciation for Korean traditions, language and fashion, and she now takes evening Korean-language classes at Seoul National University.

Her decision to enter the pageant was influenced by her YouTube subscribers. "My subscribers kept saying that I resembled Chunhyang, so I entered the contest," she said.

Laura-Mai Schults performs traditional dance at the pageant.

As the lone foreign contestant, she said she faced challenges, particularly with K-pop dance, with preparation like intensive training in traditional dance and crafting a one-minute introduction. "We practiced from morning till night every day," she said. 

Schults stood out in the traditional dance and speech segments.

The competition, recently rebranded as the Global Miss Chunhyang Pageant, represents more than beauty, she said. "Chunhyang represents loyalty, integrity and courage," she added. "Being the first foreign winner in its 95-year history is a huge honor."

"I never saw myself as someone who could compete in beauty pageants," she said. "But moving to Korea and receiving so much love and support really built my confidence."

For aspiring contestants, Schults had this advice: "The 11 days of preparation were apparently harder than what (K-pop) trainees go through."

Looking ahead, Schults pledged to continue building her life in Korea. "I hope this achievement opens new doors and allows me to stay here, building a life in a country that has given me so much," she said.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.