Facially paralyzed Miss Slovenia makes inspiring Miss U appearance

CEBU, Philippines – She may not have won the title of Miss Universe, but Miss Slovenia certainly won over the hearts of viewers.

On the annual beauty pageant, viewers learned the story of Ana Halozan who was unable to compete in the live telecast after a devastating injury.

Everything stopped in a second when the beauty had a frightening seizure. Once she woke up, doctors learned that the right side of her face was paralyzed.

“How did this happen to me? What I did in my past that this needs to be with me right now?” Ana shared in an emotional piece. “When they say to me in hospital that I can’t go to the pageant, I was, like, are you joking with me? I will go.”

As it turns out, her dreams were able to turn into a reality when host Steve Harvey introduced her to the stage Sunday night (Monday Philippine time) at the Planet Hollywood Resort.

“She thought she had lost her chance, but she didn’t,” Steve explained before the audience erupted in applause. “Let’s give her that moment for fulfilling her dream of walking on the Miss Universe stage with her friends. Please welcome Miss Universe Slovenia.”

In a stunning red dress, Ana got the crowd on its feet as she graced the stage and received flowers from past winner Paulina Vega.

“Everybody else are like, you’re going to be so sad that you won’t be in the pageant, but I said don’t cry over me because I’m okay. Don’t worry,” Ana shared in the show. “I have moved forward. I will overcome this.”

Ana’s mom Mojca Marovt added, “Ana has always had big dreams. When she gets some idea in her head, nothing will stop her.”