Hosted by the Kuching Association of Talent Development and Welfare of Special Needs (KATSN), this unique pageant goes beyond glitz and glamour, emphasising Sarawak’s rich culture, promoting tourism, and supporting special needs children.
Glamour with a Cause
A child beauty pageant is a beauty contest for children aged 16 and under. Competition categories may include talent, interview, cultural or cultural fusion, casual wear, evening wear, and other wears.
Depending on the type of pageant, the style can range from natural to glitzy, but in one upcoming event in Kuching, contestants will be donning elaborate haircuts, custom-designed outfits and heels.
The Malaysia Kids Ambassador (MKA) 2023 will soon take the stage and is open to all children in Malaysia between the ages of five and 16.
The Kuching Association of Talent Development and Welfare of Special Needs (KATSN) will host the event, which will be held in Kuching from December 16 to 18, for competition categories such as Talent, Cultural, and Evening Gowns.
With more entries from states outside Sarawak, this pageant promises to be more thrilling than the usual kids’ competitions.
All contestants will arrive on December 16 for their evening “Welcome Dinner”, where they will be dressed in cocktail wears and receive their sashes.
The competition will begin on December 17 at the Borneo Cultures Museum. The venue was chosen for the Talent competition because it is an ideal venue for children’s education.
The museum not only displays the impressive culture and heritage of the Sarawak people. It’s also interactive, especially in the Children’s Gallery, where you may learn more by playing games.
The grand final will be held at the Pullman Ballroom on December 18. A photo booth and mocktail reception will begin at 6pm. Check out the designer booths from the fashion shows, which will display some of the most interesting fashion products available.
CARRO the most fashionable golf wears brand is making its debut in Kuching. The designer is Caroline Wass, a Swedish who is also based in Kuala Lumpur.
“We are very excited about this and cannot wait to show our latest golf wears. We have golfers in Kuching who have ordered from us, and we love seeing Kuching in such a great state as it is admired by its visitors,” her partner Mark Westwood said.
Modelling the CARRO brand are some very tall and good-looking locals from New Heart Network Agency in Kuching, who are in to support the event by KATSN.
Among the guests is the glamorous Dato Nancy Yeoh, the CEO and founder of STYLO Malaysia Fashion Week, who is spending her Christmas in Kuching for the first time.
The president of the Malaysia Official Designers Association (MODA), Jay Ishak, will be in town to observe the fashion and events and visit friends.
Dr Chetan Sharma has travelled all the way from Bangalore (India’s Silicon Valley) and is also excited to visit Sarawak, which is known for its natural beauty. The IT professional is looking forward to meeting new people in Kuching and will be attending this pageant at Pullman.
Following the pageant, Dr Chetan will attend the Official Book Launch of Artist and designated NDC Malaysia’s Secretary General Gerald Goh who is also the first Malaysian artist to paint in the Monet Gallery in France.
Aside from the fact that his friends, NDC Malaysia President Victoria Fong and Gerald Goh, are participating in the MKA2023 pageant, Dr Chetan is a strong supporter of special needs children.
There will be Cultural and Evening Gown competitions, and the focus will also be on the autistic children who are very talented. Crafting good quality and customised handbags out of natural rattan is one of the skills being developed by this association that is hosting this event.
Taking to the catwalk together with Artist Gerald Goh and Hotelier Olivia Ting, will be some of these special needs children wearing specially designed sustainable fashion by none other than NASHA PRIVE from Kuching who won an award in Kuala Lumpur in Sustainable Fashion this year.
It is a unique pageant as it emphasises on promoting Sarawak tourism, crafts, and arts in a creative and innovative way, as well as fostering skills and talent in children with special needs.
