Malaysian trio gunning for crown in Kota Kinabalu

17 Oct 2023 • 10:49 AM MYT
Daily Express
Daily Express

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Kota Kinabalu: The Miss Malaysia Tourism Pageant 2023 has advanced its journey to the Miss Tourism International World Final by crowning three beautiful queens from Sabah, Kuala Lumpur and Pahang during the National Grand Final ceremony.

The panel of judges chose the queens for three titles including Miss Malaysia Tourism 2023, Miss Malaysia Tourism Queen of the Year 2023 and Miss Malaysia Tourism Metropolitan 2023, despite the tough competition.

Jen Cheang Shi Hui from Kuala Lumpur was crowned Miss Malaysia Tourism 2023 while Sabah’s Joanne Clare Deaves won the Miss Malaysia Tourism Queen of The Year 2023 title and Shelyn Poh of Pahang became the Miss Malaysia Tourism Metropolitan 2023.

Regarding this, Miss Malaysia Tourism Pageant, President Tan Sri Danny Ooi, who conveyed gratitude to the panel of judges, told the media in a press conference that he was pleased with the final result drawn by the judges.

SPONSORED CONTENT Daily Express members: Enjoy 1 for 1 signature cocktails and more at Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu: DAILY EXPRESS is partnering with Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu to offer an exclusive deal for our members. Read more Danny went on to confirm that the three queens will lead Malaysia in the forthcoming Miss Tourism International 2023 World Final, which will be held from Nov 10-27 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SCCI) in Kota Kinabalu.

Meanwhile, he congratulated the queens who made it to the World Final before reminding them to work hard for the Miss Tourism International 2023 that features 49 competing countries.

In fact, Joanne, 23, has kept her word when she assured the Daily Express last week that she would win a crown in the National Final, on account of her experience and abilities.

Upon winning the Miss Malaysia Tourism Queen of the Year 2023 title, she pledged again to uphold the nation’s pride as she will be representing Malaysia to a global audience this time.

“I feel very happy and blessed to win the crown today. I’d like to thank my family, friends as well as those who voted for me to win the Miss Malaysia Tourism Queen of the Year 2023 title. In fact, with their support, I’m feeling confident to say that I’m well prepared for the World Final too.

“As the Miss Malaysia Tourism of the year 2023, I believe that it’s not just about promoting the culture of Malaysia and its people as well as their ethnicity but it is also important to recognise the advocacy for women empowerment. I would love to be the voice of women and speak up for them as I understand their struggles in their daily lives,” she proudly said.

Moreover, Joanne has also added more pride to Sabah by winning two more subsidiary titles, Miss Le Bisou Charm and Miss Gintell Wellness.

On the other hand, Jen, 26, expressed awe to her loved ones for their continuous backing, which led her to win the crown and advance to the World Final.

She continued to motivate the remaining 15 contestants who were unable to qualify for the World Final, stating that failure is only a stepping stone to future successes.

“Winning the Miss Malaysia Tourism 2023 title is an incredible honor, and I would like to express my gratitude to my family, mentors, and the incredible team behind the pageant because their unwavering support and guidance have been instrumental in this journey.

“Those delegates who couldn’t secure a crown, please remember that this pageant is just one chapter in your journey, so keep pursuing your dreams, stay committed, and use this experience as a stepping stone for personal growth and future opportunities.

Jen too made it clear that she is totally committed to the World Final and has been working on essential preparation in order to give her all for Malaysia, despite the challenges including the diverse culture of other participating countries.

“I’m preparing diligently for this global stage by focusing on personal development, cultural understanding, and refining my advocacy work.

Representing Malaysia is an immense privilege but I have to say that it will bring its unique set of challenges, from intense competition to the responsibility of international representation.

“I’m immersing myself to learn more about the diverse cultures of the other countries’ delegate representatives to understand their tradition and values to enable better communication and meaningful connections as I want to help them forge a meaningful connection with the beauty as well as culture of Malaysia,” she said.

Echoing her, the Miss Malaysia Tourism Metropolitan 2023, Shelyn, predicted a tough battle at the World Final due to the large number of participating nations with different cultures and customs.

“I anticipate a tough competition at the World Final, but I believe in my capabilities. Malaysia’s extraordinary diversity and rich culture set me apart, and my preparation makes me confident in handling the challenges with grace and poise.

“Winning the World Final would be a dream come true. My next step would be to use this platform to promote tourism and culture, as well as initiating projects that contribute to the well-being of society, not only in Malaysia but also on a global scale,” she said.

Shelyn also received a subsidiary title, Miss King’s Park Lifestyle, while other finalists from Sabah, Penang, Kedah, Selangor, and Melaka won the remaining five subsidiary titles.

Sabah’s Ellesha Meschille, 20, won the Miss Pavalintang Personality while Roseanne Lim Janny, 27, of Penang was crowned Miss Clam Sanctuary Goodwill.

Meanwhile, Sally Eoh, 21, of Kedah received the Miss Bitney Glamour and Lim Qian, 27, from Selangor won the Best In Talent while the Best In Social Media title was secured by Hera Wong Kin Wei, 24 from Melaka.

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