KUCHING: Eleven beauties will be competing in the fourth edition of the Miss Tagang beauty pageant at the fifth Semadang International Tagang Festival 2019. They are Vanessa Tinella, 18; Vivianna Caroline Alfraid, 19; Lidya Yusreena Abdul Ellias, 25; Imelda Neleon, 19; Suziana Damik, 22; Elssieca Jitai, 22; Lydia Hyginus, 20; Shinia James, 22; Nurhafeeza Abdul Ellias, 19; Camalia Julin, 21 and Wellnest Trisha Kelana, 19.
The finale will be held tomorrow evening at Kampung Semadang, Jalan Puncak Borneo in conjunction with the opening ceremony of the 5th Semadang International Tagang Festival by Transport Assistant Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil. The competition’s coordinator, Alvine Ngu, said initially there were 12 contestants but one of the contestants is unwell and dropped out. Ngu said besides the Miss Tagang titles, the contestants will also compete for the subsidiary title — ‘Miss Tagang Popular’.
“The winner of the Miss Tagang Popular subsidiary title will be decided by votes,” said Ngu, adding that members of the public can vote at the competition’s venue before the start of the competition.
The top three winners will receive cash prizes of RM1,500, RM1,000 and RM500 respectively, while eight consolation prize winners will take home RM200 each. Meanwhile, the winner of Miss Tagang Popular will win an additional RM500. Guests will also be entertained by Asean Song Contest 2019 champion Rosario Ninih Biani and local band Megaforce.
The Semadang Tagang Festival 2019 will be held from today till September 1 with various activities taking place during those three days. The festival will kick off this evening with the Bidayuh traditional dance and gongbeating competition involving eight cultural troupes, namely ‘Kelab Kebudayaan Persatuan Segu Benuk’, ‘Kelab Kebudayaan Kampung Tematu’, ‘Kebudayaan Warisan Kampung Opar’, ‘Onak Triyu Kampung Opar’, ‘Warisan Tramuok (Periok Kera) Kampung Stass Bau,’ Bung Siburan Heritage Association, ‘Kelab Kebudayaan Dragon’ and ‘Staak Bisombu Bau Singai’.
A fishing competition involving more than 200 participants will also be held today, starting at 9.30am along the Semadang River. Other activities include talks on river cleanliness, cooking competition, poco-poco, Zumba dance, dart competition, children’s colouring contest, street soccer as well as plenty of food and drink stalls operating throughout the festival.
