ALBANIA: KOSOVO: 19 YR OLD REFUGEE WINS MISS ALBANIA CONTEST

(30 May 1999) English/Nat
A 19-year-old refugee from Kosovo has been crowned Miss Albania 1999.
Venera Mustafa, who won the title on Saturday night, said her greatest desire was to return to her homeland as soon as possible.
Venera Mustafa has had little to celebrate recently.
Her crowning as Miss Albania 1999 is a welcome contrast to the trauma of the last few months.
A student from Pristina, she is one of more than 840-thousand ethnic Albanians who have fled or been forced out of war-torn Kosovo.
It was the first time an ethnic Albanian from neighbouring Kosovo has taken part in a Miss Albania contest.
Venera was overwhelmed by her victory.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It means very much to me, very much... I can't explain it, I don't have the words to explain it. It's something very big, something that never happens to me."
SUPERCAPTION: Venera Mustafa, Miss Albania
But like her fellow refugees, Venera's biggest desire is to return to her homeland.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
(Q: Are you hoping to go back to Albania soon?)
"Yes, very soon, I hope, very soon."
SUPERCAPTION: Venera Mustafa, Miss Albania
Venera defeated 23 rivals to win the crown.
Her mother, Muradije Ramiqi, a Pristina poet and painter, said that as the family was fleeing to Albania, she never imagined that her daughter would find herself taking part in a beauty contest.
Venera wins 800-thousand lek (US $6,000) and will represent Albania in a Miss Europe contest in a month.
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[@BonaMerkuri]

Kot fareeee.Sonila Merkuri ylllllllll bote

[@aef786]

She is not even pretty and her performance is like she was walking to grocery store