Suwaida Bugeja says the journey has taught her to dream bigger, lead with kindness, and believe in herself as she prepares for Tanzania 2027.
One year after being crowned Miss World Malta 2025, Suwaida Bugeja is reflecting on the lessons, growth, and personal transformation that have shaped her reign.
In a message marking the anniversary of her crowning, Bugeja said the experience had taught her “to dream wider than I once thought possible,” to “lead with kindness,” and to remain empathetic because “everyone is fighting battles we cannot see.”
She also emphasized the importance of staying connected to her roots while continuing to pursue ambitious goals.
“Most importantly, to never allow anyone, including myself, to place limits on my dreams,” she wrote.
Looking ahead, Bugeja said she remains focused on her future journey toward Miss World, carrying with her every lesson, challenge, and moment of support she has received along the way.
While her predecessor, Nicole Spiteri, is still set to represent Malta at the 75th Anniversary Edition of Miss World in Vietnam later this year, Bugeja will have approximately another year to prepare for her own participation at Miss World, scheduled to take place in Tanzania in May 2027, a prospect she says excites her and one she eagerly anticipates.
Friendships were forged and hundreds of photos were taken as the participants of Miss World 1999 toured Malta.Malta, the Mediterranean island nation renowned for its remarkably preserved prehistoric temples, crystal-clear waters, and centuries of history shaped by civilizations ranging from the Phoenicians to the Knights of St. John, has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the Miss World Festival.
The country made its Miss World debut in 1965 through Wilhelmina Mallia and has continued to participate ever since.
A fact many pageant fans may not know is that Malta has twice co-hosted the Miss World Festival (with London, where the final event was held), in 1987 and 1999, providing a stunning backdrop for contestants from around the globe and showcasing the nation’s unique heritage, hospitality, and natural beauty to a worldwide audience.
As she enters the second year of her reign, Suwaida Bugeja continues to embrace the journey ahead with gratitude, determination, and optimism, believing that the best chapters of her Miss World story are still to be written.
