Miss Integrazione 2025: The First Asian Winner Is a Sri Lankan Medical Student

She was only seven years old when she left her homeland, Sri Lanka, to settle in Europe with her family. Her dream is to launch a charitable project dedicated to health and cancer prevention, with special attention to developing countries. Bivon Chaya Leitan, a Sri Lankan-born student in her final year of Medicine, has won the international competition “Miss Integrazione 2025”, held in Milan, Italy, which featured contestants from several countries from Europe, Africa and South America. It is the first time in history that an Asian woman has won this title—an award that celebrates the values of integration and cultural diversity.

Who is the Miss, Her Journey to Europe, and the Dream She Wants to Realize;

That of Chaya Leitan, currently enrolled in her sixth year of medical school, is a story of integration, education, and compassion. She was only seven years old when she left her native Sri Lanka to come to Europe with her family. “Growing up between two cultures taught me that every tradition is a treasure,” she says, “and that bringing our values together means building a more humane and stronger society.”

Growing up between two worlds, Chaya’s life has been shaped by diversity and resilience. From her Sri Lankan roots, she inherited depth and spirituality, from her experiences abroad, an open minded and compassionate outlook. Surrounded by different cultures and perspectives, she learned early on that true strength lies in embracing unity and understanding across borders. Her story is one of transformation, cultural harmony, and purpose.

During the competition, Chaya also won the Best National Costume Award, proudly representing Sri Lanka in a magnificent peacock-inspired traditional outfit. The costume, rich in symbolism and elegance, reflected the grace, pride, and cultural heritage of her homeland, standing as a visual tribute to Sri Lanka’s beauty and artistry.

“This victory doesn’t represent only me,” says Bivon Chaya with emotion, “but all the people who work every day to build a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.” Much of her strength, she says, comes from the lessons instilled by her parents and family.

Through their sacrifices and guidance, she learned the true meaning of perseverance, kindness, and gratitude. Their unwavering belief in education and hard work became the foundation of her journey, teaching her that success is not only measured by achievement, but by the values one carries along the way.

Following her historic win, Chaya was honoured with a heartfelt felicitation ceremony in Italy, attended by members of the Sri Lankan community, friends, and supporters. Her return was celebrated with immense pride — at the airport, she was welcomed by traditional Hewisi drummers and Kandyan dancers, a vibrant expression of Sri Lankan culture and joy. The celebration symbolized not only her personal achievement, but also the pride of an entire community seeing one of their own make history on an international stage.

“For me, this is just a starting point. Through the title and visibility I’ve earned, I want to launch a charitable project focused on health and cancer prevention, with special attention to developing countries like Sri Lanka. My dream,” she explains, “is to create an international awareness campaign for cancer prevention, especially in areas where healthcare is not easily accessible. I want to combine my medical training and public voice to build bridges between medicine, culture, and solidarity.”