Miss Thailand kneels before her trash-picking mother

Mint Kanistha is not ashamed of her mother's job as a trash collector because it allowed her to study and one day win a beauty pageant.

Mint Kanistha (17 years old) was recently crowned Miss Uncensored News Thailand 2015. She was born into a poor family and since childhood, she followed her mother to collect aluminum, copper, iron and plastic from garbage dumps to sell for a living. After winning the beauty pageant, she returned to her hometown, knelt at her mother's feet, and expressed her gratitude for her upbringing.

The photo of Mint Kanistha kneeling before her mother was shared by many people.

Mint’s story and photos were then widely shared on social media. In an interview with Thairath, Mint said she graduated from high school but did not have money to take the entrance exam and continue to university. Her mother sold scrap metal and old clothes to earn money for her to finish high school. Before, whenever she had free time, she would go pick up scrap metal and sort trash to help her mother.

"If someone asks me if I am ashamed of my mother's job, I will answer no. I am who I am today thanks to this job. I work honestly and earn money cleanly, why should I feel ashamed?", the beauty queen said.

Mint Kanistha picked up trash with her mother before becoming famous.

Miss Uncensored News Thailand 2015 is a gender-neutral contest for ladyboys and real girls. They will compete together to find the one who is both beautiful and talented.

Mint's story is reminiscent of Kalangnalong, the Thai boy who knelt before his father's garbage truck in gratitude when he graduated from university.

According to VnExpress