A contest where intelligence is the real winner

"In my 11 years overseas I encountered some ridiculous, irritating misinterpretations of China, but I didn't know how to change them other than by doing well in my studies," Wang says. "I became aware of how critical it is to have a say in global dialogue. The older I get the more connected I feel to my country. I'm still passionate about changing cultural stereotypes."

Not long after she came back to China she was selected to take part in the National Day parade with 3,513 other students and teachers of Tsinghua University.

"For the first time in my life I stood on the earth of my motherland with so many of my compatriots and was overwhelmed by a strong sense of belonging that brought me to tears."

In contrast, she had never felt any connections with the Miss China contest before, she says, until she learned it is the only official national contest that sends representatives to the Miss World contest.

"This world stage calls for a Chinese face who truly understands different cultures to represent the image of a modern China. I have a competitive edge here, and I should live up to it. I grew up between Chinese and Western cultures, and I regard this as my mission."

Another mission for her is the combat against climate change and the fight to protect the environment. In 2018 she, with a team of 30 others, sailed 4,400 kilometers from Tahiti to Hawaii, crossing the equator, the focus being nautical science and oceanography. The trip brought home to her the urgency of tackling global warming.