MIRI: In USA, Europe and India, contests for plus size women are well known.
In Sarawak, there were no such contests before. But it looks like the winds of change are blowing here.
On Saturday, Miri hosted the state’s first ever Miss and Mrs Plus Sarawak 2019 contest.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shim, who graced the grand final of the beauty pageant, lauded the efforts of the organiser and proposed similar events for plus size men in the future.
“Unique events like this can boost our tourism,” he remarked.
The contest, organised by the Dayak Association Miri in collaboration with Sociolytics Sdn Bhd, attracted 17 beautiful plus size contestants weighing from 80kg and above from the whole of Sarawak.
It was divided into two categories —Miss (for singles) and Mrs (for the married).
Eight contestants competed in the Miss category and nine in the Mrs category.
The contestants were judged not only on their looks but on their intelligence and their positive attitude as well.
For the Miss category, a 24-year-old Crystal Lulong from Miri beat seven other contestants to walk away with RM1,500, a sash and a crown.
First runner-up, Amanda Laus, 28, from Bintulu, received RM1,200, a sash and a crown while second runner-up Lisa Jane, 26, walked away with RM1,000, a sash and a crown.
The Mrs category was won by Christy Mujan, 28, from Miri.
Qalesya Ong, 27, also from Miri, came second while Sherrylia Newson Sinan, 31, was third.
They received similar cash amounts as the winners in the Miss category.
The winners of the subsidiary titles were: Miss Photogenic-Amanda Laus; Mrs Photogenic-Sim Hui Ting; Miss Catwalk-Crystal Lulong; Mrs Catwalk-Christy Mujan; Miss Popular-Masstura Pesa; Mrs Popular-Qalesya Ong.
Also present were Serawa Budol, president of Dayak Association Miri, and S Gumasegaran of Sociolytics Sdn Bhd.
Nearly 200 people attended the contest held at a leading hotel here.
