KUCHING: It was one of the moments in her life that former beauty queen Datin Senorita Linang will always cherish.
Last Saturday evening, a popular singer back in the 60s and 70s, was crowned ‘Queen of Queens’ in recognition of her long involvement in the beauty pageant industry.
This was thanks to Angel Impact Management, a company owned by former beauty queen Angela Martin, who initiated the move.
The ceremony was held in conjunction with Miss Beautiful Chubby Queen and Mrs Beautiful Chubby Queen contests held at Penview Convention Centre, Demak near here.
Miss Planet International Viviana Lin Winston performed the crowning on Senorita, who is in her 70s.
Prior to this, Senorita walked into the function hall accompanied by Angela Martin, Alice Stephen and 30 beauty queens.
Senorita is the widow of Temenggong Datuk James Jimbun Pungga, a former Kapit MP.
“I will continue to contribute as long as I can because beauty pageants, singing and dancing have always been my interest,” she said.
She was a judge in a long list of beauty contests. Among them, the state and national-level Kumang Gawai, Miss Fair & Lovely Gawai Dayak Tourism Night, Miss World Harvest Festival and Miss Cultural Harvest Festival for several years.
She was also one of the judges for Miss City Queen, Miss Sarawak, Miss & Mrs Kebaya Malaysia (Sarawak) 2018.
Senorita said her involvement in beauty contests began in the early 60s when she became the first Iban maiden to be crowned Kumang Gawai Dayak for three consecutive years — 1966, 1967 and 1968.
“From then on, I never looked back and I was chosen to represent Sarawak in the Miss Malaysia Float Queen in conjunction with the 10th Merdeka anniversary on Aug 31, 1967 in Kuala Lumpur and I was the second runner-up,” she said.
In the entertainment industry, Senorita emerged the ‘Best Lady Pop Singer’ in a contest in Kuching in 1965. This opened up an opportunity for her to become a recording artiste with Radio Sarawak for the English, Iban and Malay section in the 60s and 70s.
Senorita said her popular Iban song Belala Begulai was recorded over Radio Sarawak in 1961, Nadai Meri Berita and Beri Pesan Ke Aku — also popular songs recorded in 1962.
“In the 60s and 70s I also sang with numerous local pop groups, namely The Vandals, The Tornadoes, The Beatniks, The Diamond Shakes, The Star Dusts, The Evergreen Lads, The Royalists, RTM Combo, Sarawak State Jazz Symphony Orchestra, KPSU Combo and The Linang Sisters.
“In 1965 and 1967, I sang with Kumpulan Okestra Alfonso Suliano at Dewan Merdeka Kuala Lumpur, The Checkmates band from Singapore at Miramar Cinema, Kuching and in 2000, I made a special appearance as guest artiste at the ‘Malam Sinaran Bintang-Bintang’,” said Senorita.
In 2008, she documented the original dance steps of Sarawak’s Ngajat Iban — Ajat Indu and Ajat Bujang Berani.
Senorita is also no stranger to the state political arena, holding various positions in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Women’s Wing Supreme Council from 1986 to 2016. She served as a pharmacy assistant at Sarawak General Hospital from 1965 to 1993 and has been the manager of the Dayak Cultural Foundation since 1994.
Besides that, she is also actively involved in several non-governmental organisations. She was the secretary of Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak from 1998 to July 2018.
She was one of the personalities featured in the book Sarawak Women in the Arts launched by then Chief Minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem in conjunction with the state-level Women’s Day celebration on Oct 17, 2015.
Senorita was awarded the Johan Bintang Kenyalang, Pegawai Bintang Kenyalang, Ahli Bintang Sarawak and Sijil Perkhidmatan Cemerlang. She received the Bintang Kesatria Mangku Negara in 2015.
