Miss Hellas 2022, Zoi Asoumanaki won a place in the top 15 in "Miss International 2023".
Zoi Asoumanaki gave an interview to "T-live", where she talked about her difficult childhood due to the separation of her parents, the bullying she faced at school, and also the alopecia she suffered from.
First, about her childhood, she described: "I started school in Athens with my mum and my little brother, who is now 13 years old, in the first year of high school. Dad stayed behind in Rethymnon."
She then added: "I got the autoimmune disease when I finished school and went back to Crete to study. All the readjustment stressed me. How I would make friends stressed me out. I was stressed, I was worried.
"Mum and I are now very close. I had already changed two schools with a difficult adjustment, having also been bullied. When a new person appears in an already existing group, the children hardly accept you in such a group."
She added: "I was in a fairly closed society, I wasn't in Athens, I was in Marathon. I was already in Crete when I went from Rethymno to Heraklion, and it wasn't easy there. I'm not saying that only the Marathon made it difficult for me.
"Children can be adamant if they want, and I was tough," the model continued.
When asked how she managed to face the difficulties and find success, she replied: "When my parents divorced, I was at the age of 12. I was a child, but I understood everything. I took it very seriously, the truth is, as do all children.
"Of course, I have realised that it was better that things turned out this way because now we are all happy. Their love remains the same, even though they are apart. There are moments when I miss my family, being together, spending time together, doing things together. But I think it was better that way."
Then, Zoi Asoumanaki confessed to the topic of alopecia: "I learned all this completely by accident. I had been to the hairdresser, and my hairdresser asked me if I had seen what I had on my head.
:I had gaps. At first, I looked it up because I didn't know what it was. I had never heard of alopecia before. Of course, I was nervous. Because if your psychological condition worsens, you may lose more hair.
"I was lucky because I only had a few gaps in my head. I tried as much as I could to eliminate anxiety and stress, and I tried to think positively. I also did a drug treatment with my doctor.
"I was taking cortisone injections in particular; it is the only treatment that exists for this specific autoimmune disease."
Regarding the distinction in beauty pageants, the young model said: "Since 2007, our country has qualified, so I think it was a great joy and emotion. We didn't make it to the finals, unfortunately."
Finally, regarding her experience at the competition held in Tokyo, Zoi Asoumanaki said: "The trip was a unique experience. Travelling there was not in my immediate plans. I met so many girls with whom I have kept in touch, and I want to travel to their countries. The fact that our country was heard after so many years greatly moved me."
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