Kyu Kyu Hla
Kyu Kyu Hla is the acting First Lady of Myanmar and spouse of the country’s Prime Minister and current acting President, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. A retired educator by profession, she has played an influential role within Myanmar’s military community and currently holds honorary patronage of Myanmar Women’s Affairs. Her public profile has grown significantly following her husband’s rise to power after the 2021 military coup.
Early Life and Education
Born on 13 April 1954 in Yangon, Myanmar (also reported as Zee Kyun village under Auk Nat Maw village-tract in Thandwe), Kyu Kyu Hla is the daughter of Maung Maung Hla and Ohn Hla. She completed her matriculation exam in 1970, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Myanmar studies in 1974, and a Master of Arts in Myanmar in 1981, both from Rangoon (Yangon) University.
Career as an Educator
After completing her studies, Kyu Kyu Hla began her career as a tutor at Rangoon University in 1981. She later worked at Taunggyi College starting in 1986 and returned to Rangoon University as an assistant lecturer in 1989. She retired from academia in 1994, having dedicated over a decade to teaching Myanmar language and literature.
Marriage and Role in Military Circles
Kyu Kyu Hla married Min Aung Hlaing in 1980 when he was a junior military officer. As her husband rose through military ranks to become Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Army, Kyu Kyu Hla gained significant influence among military families. She is affectionately known within military circles as “Amay Kyu” (Mother Kyu) and has led the wives of high-ranking military officials, often accompanying her husband on foreign diplomatic visits as part of military delegations.
Involvement in Military and Religious Ceremonies
In February 2020, she and her husband jointly performed a symbolic ceremony by placing the royal “Hti” umbrella atop the ancient Htilominlo Temple in Bagan, an act widely interpreted as a ritual to seek divine favor for her husband’s ambitions.
She has also been active in promoting Buddhism in Myanmar, notably being awarded the prestigious title Agga Maha Thiri Thudhamma Theingi in March 2023 for her significant contributions to Buddhist propagation.
Controversies and Public Perception
Kyu Kyu Hla has faced domestic backlash and boycotts from pro-democracy supporters following the military coup in February 2021, which led to widespread violence and thousands of deaths among anti-coup protesters. She is targeted largely due to her association with her husband’s military regime.
In July 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned her, freezing any assets in the U.S. and banning financial transactions with U.S. persons, as part of broader measures against the military leadership responsible for the coup.
Her public appearances have also attracted criticism, such as when she led military families in chanting Buddhist texts in November 2021 while sitting on a cushioned chair—seen by many as a symbol of power hunger.
She has written pro-military poetry under the pen name Thiri Pyae Sone May, including pieces praising the Myanmar Air Force, which has been implicated in violent military operations against civilians.
Role as Acting First Lady of Myanmar
Following her husband Min Aung Hlaing’s appointment as acting President on 22 July 2024, Kyu Kyu Hla assumed the role of acting First Lady of Myanmar. In this capacity, she has represented Myanmar in international forums, notably delivering a speech at the Fourth Eurasian Women’s Forum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in September 2024. There, she highlighted women’s courage, leadership, and creativity in overcoming global challenges.
Her position as acting First Lady places her at the intersection of Myanmar’s political, military, and social spheres during a highly contentious and transformative period in the nation’s history.
- 13 April 1954
- Myanmar
- Acting President and Chairman of the State Administration Council Min Aung Hlaing
- 22 July 2024 - Present
