MUKAH: Eunice Vanessa Francis from Miri won the ‘Teluwaih Jinih’ 2023, Pesta Kaul Mukah beauty pageant, defeating 14 other finalists in the finals held at Kala Dana Beach today.
She was pleasantly surprised at winning, saying that she expected to place third or fourth, but the victory would be a memorable moment that she will cherish forever.
“But I won the crown tonight, I am lost for words,” she said.
However, Eunice stated that this might be her last attempt to participate in a beauty pageant.
She also won the Ms Body Beautiful award. Her runner-up, Iman Annemarie Sulaiman, finalist number 5, was crowned as Ms Intelligent.
Iman was excited, saying that the experience has helped her confidence, and she may participate in future beauty pageants.
Miss World Malaysia 2018, Larissa Ping, crowned Eunice as the winner of the pageant.
As one of the panel judges for the beauty pageant, Larissa praised the organisers.
“I would say they have set the standards high for local pageantry. This pageant has set the bar really high for other pageants. I hope to see more contestants next year and a future Miss World from here,” she told reporters after the event.
Criselda Yap, finalist number 6, placed third, followed by Patricia Vivina Cosmos, finalist number 10, in fourth place, and Charmaine Chan William, in fifth place.
The ‘Teluwaih Jinih’ beauty pageant, which means beautiful lady in the Melanau language, required participants to be of Melanau heritage and aged between 18 to 30 years old.
The fifteen participants were divided into three designer groups: Fadura by Fadli Bahari, Rozie Khan Couture, and Aidi Avante Splendour.
The judges evaluated the participants in five categories: Ms Catwalk, Ms Body Beautiful, Ms Intelligent, Ms Fotogenic, and Ms Busana.
Charmaine Chan William won both the Ms Catwalk and Ms Fotogenic, while Edythe Jayne Donny won the Ms Busana award.
The event was attended by Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah and Balingian assemblyman Abdul Yakub Arbi.
