Liliam Ashby Barrera, 26, will represent Panama at Miss Charm 2026. This marks the first time the Central American country is participating in the international beauty pageant based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Liliam Ashby Barrera
Hailing from Panama City, Panama, Barrera is the founder of La Cara Bonita de Mi Panamá (The Beautiful Face of My Panama), an initiative dedicated to empowering underprivileged women and children through education, leadership, and personal development. For her, true beauty is measured by the lives people inspire and the opportunities they create for others.
Currently, Barrera is pursuing a degree in medicine. Through strategic communications, she is also promoting Panamanian brands, fashion and talent .
On August 3, 2024, Barrera represented Panama Centro at Señorita Panamá 2024 and competed against 23 other candidates at the Figali Convention Center in Panama City. She was runner-up to Italy Mora of Riviera del Canal.
On November 12, 2024, Barrera represented Panama at Miss International 2024 and competed against 70 other candidates at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan. She was unplaced.
Miss Charm 2026
On December 12, 2025, Anna Patricia Blanco Flores represented Venezuela at Miss Charm 2025 and competed against 33 other candidates at the BHD Studio in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She won the title.
On July 27, 2026, Barrera was appointed Miss Charm Panama 2026. On December 5, 2026, Blanco will crown her successor in Vietnam.
Including Panama, more than 40 countries and territories will be represented. Here are some of Sambadzai’s fellow candidates:
- Florencia Hernández, 22, Argentina
- Krysta Heath, 30, Australia
- Maatla Poo, 21, Botswana
- Britney Ngafansi, 24, Cameroon
- Natasha Peng, 24, Costa Rica
- Naomi Padrón, 23, Cuba
- Natalia Ormeño, 22, Ecuador
- Karina Ramírez, 25, Guatemala
- Chidania Compère, 24, Haiti
- Gisela Thesa, 24, Indonesia
- Balroop Aujla, 32, Malaysia
- Bayarchimeg Tsegmid, 23, Mongolia
- Shaivi Misier, 18, Netherlands
- Roma Arif, 22, Pakistan
- Fátima Rodríguez, 34, Paraguay
- Apriel Deguilmo Smith, 30, Philippines
- Dominique Reyes, 22, Spain
- Bianca Del Buon Tromboni, 24, Sri Lanka
- Charlie Cousin, 19, United Kingdom
From Panama to Vietnam
Despite being located on opposite sides of the globe, Panama and Vietnam share a relationship grounded in strategic logistics, historical solidarity, and targeted trade.
Diplomatic ties were established in August 1975, shortly after Vietnam’s reunification. Historical trust was cemented in 1979 when Vietnam became the first nation to sign the protocol supporting the permanent neutrality of the Panama Canal—a gesture deeply respected in Panamanian diplomacy. Official government contacts are further streamlined by mutual visa exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders.
Today, economic cooperation serves as the primary engine driving their relationship. Panama’s position as a major maritime hub provides Vietnam with a strategic entry point into Latin American markets, largely facilitated by the Colón Free Zone. Bilateral trade features Vietnamese exports of electronics, textiles, and fish fillets to Panama, while Panama supplies raw materials—primarily rough wood and scrap—to Vietnam.
Maritime affairs represent another strong connection, as numerous Vietnamese seafarers serve aboard Panamanian-flagged vessels. Supported by regular diplomatic consultations, these two geographically distant nations continue to build a productive bridge between Southeast Asia and Latin America.
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