The Miss International Malaysia pageant has strived to distinguish itself from other typical pageants through its activities that are specially curated from the perspective of promoting tourism, arts, and culture through fashion and beauty, as contestants are tested to showcase their creativity in traditional dances, culinary arts, and local fashion pieces, to name a few.
Miss International Malaysia Semenanjung 2023: Empowering women, boosting Malaysian tourism
Miss International Malaysia Semenanjung 2023 (MIMS 2023), the first pageant to incorporate the effort to boost Malaysian tourism and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) into the pageant industry, had its gala night on July 29 at the Sofitel Kuala Lumpur.
Throughout the Miss International Malaysia (MIM) pageant, Malaysia’s diverse cultures, attractions, and landmarks were showcased through various segments and posted on YouTube, allowing viewers around the world to follow the participants’ journeys more closely.
MIM encourages contestants to share travelogues featuring Malaysia’s top attractions to their followers and social media users worldwide, promoting the country’s tourism.
Miss International Organisation, one of the world’s earliest and most prominent world-class pageant associations, was thrilled to announce the first winner of MIMS 2023.
She is Ashlyn Ooi, a model from Penang. The 26-year-old beauty, who stands 171cm tall, was the popular pick.
First runner-up Cassandra Yap, who won three subsidiary titles, was another popular choice. She is a 24-year-old model from Johor with a height of 171cm.
Second runner-up is Renee Loh from Selangor. The 27-year-old is a Content Creator who spoke with confidence.
Third runner-up is 28-year-old Christina Lee from Ipoh. She is the tallest contestant, standing at 178cm tall, and works as an art gallery manager.
Fourth runner-up is 21-year-old Rebekah Yap. She is a Contents Writer from Selangor.
The three wild cards are Becca Lee (interior architecture designer), Ashlyn Devisha (student/model) and Rachelle (research assistant).
The eight contestants from MIM Semenanjung will compete alongside six contestants from MIM Sabah and six contestants from MIM Sarawak on September 10, 2023, in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
The pageant’s goal is to produce a beauty queen who is not only beautiful but also intelligent, and who can serve as an inspiration on the international stage.
It also aims to boost tourism in Malaysia in the long run through establishing positive international connections, particularly with Japan, through charity programmes, business, education, and other avenues, as the winner of MIM will represent Malaysia at Miss International in Japan.
Present to officiate at the gala night was Manoharan Periasamy, senior director of International Promotion Division (Asia/Africa), Tourism Malaysia, witnessed by Datuk Wira Dr Calvin Khiu, OE Edugroup chairman.
“The Miss International Malaysia Semenanjung 2023 is an extraordinary event with the ability to elevate our nation to the global stage while empowering women to realise their true potential. It proves to be a vital ally in achieving this aspiration as the contestants, hailed from different parts of the country, share their unique customs and traditions, painting a vivid tapestry of Malaysia’s cultural diversity,” Manoharan said during his speech.
As a result of the cultural exchange through beauty and fashion, he added, the tourism industry will benefit as visitors flock into the country to witness firsthand Malaysia’s vibrant festivals, diverse cuisine, and enchanting customs at the international grand finals.
As part of its corporate social responsibility initiative and contribution to the UNSDG’s Zero Hunger goal, the MIMS organisations and its 15 finalists collaborated with SunStrong Sdn Bhd and its association, the Love Life Association, to provide daily food necessities for underprivileged children homes including the Ti-Ratana Welfare Society.
The initiative is in line with SunStrong’s vision to “Let the world have more joy and happiness because of our existence,” its mission to “Provide Quality & Meaningful Products That Resonate with Positive Energy,” and its overall corporate values of “Breaking Through, Helping Others Succeed, and Sharing Positivity,” which is also its sole focus when deciding suitable movie investments and event sponsorships.
“We take immense pride in providing comprehensive training to these beautiful inside out women, encompassing essential hard and soft skills, such as women entrepreneurship and fostering a spirit of compassion, empathy, and community engagement, throughout the duration of the MIMS competition,” MIM state director Kimberly Lee said.
The winner of MIMS 2023 received an honorary one-year ambassadorship contract with SunStrong Sdn Bhd, as well as an immunity pass to use in the next MIM pageant.
MIMS 2023’s diverse judging lineup comprised representatives from the entertainment industry, esteemed individuals, and former beauty pageant titleholders to contribute to fair and comprehensive evaluations.
Among them were Jment Lim, the managing director of SunStrong Entertainment; Kashfi Zulkufli, celebrity fashion designer and chief executive officer of Kashfi Zulkufli Holdings Sdn Bhd; Cindy Po, artist and actress; Chong Keat Aun, film director, performing artist and broadcaster; Charmaine Chew Qi En, MIM 2019-2021; and Giselle Tay Xin Heng, MIM 2022.
Following the gala dinner, the winner of MIMS 2023 and the managing director of SunStrong Entertainment signed a memorandum of understanding in a press conference.
