MISS SCUBA INTERNATIONAL PAGEANT
KOTA KINABALU: The judges are certain to have a tough time picking the winner this time around.
The yearly Miss Scuba International pageant staged here for the ninth year has attracted a record number 24 beauties from around the world.
Guess what? They are all scuba divers.
Participants have begun arriving in batches at Sipadan-Mabul Resort in Mabul Island where they will undergo marine conservation education and beach and underwater clean-ups.
A spokeswoman for the organisers said the contestants, aged between 18 and 28, hold executive jobs and are university undergraduates.
One of the criteria of participation is they must be certified scuba divers.
“Their island stint will also include photoshoots, interviews and conservation workshops for the grand finale to be held at the Magellan Sutera Resort here on Nov 16, to be officiated by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew, who is also the Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister,” said the spokeswoman.
A panel of judges will select the winner, who will act as a global ambassador to promote marine conservation as well as scuba diving as a sport.
“The idea is to instill awareness on the dangers of pollution, particularly from plastic littering which suffocates the ocean thereby worsening climate change,” said Robert Lo, founder and president of Miss Scuba International.
Subsidiary titles are Miss Marine Conservation, Best in National Costume, Best in Social Media, Miss Photogenic, Best in Talent and Miss Congeniality.
Other than Malaysia, the contestants also come from Australia, Belgium, Benelux, China, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, United Kingdom and USA.
