KUCHING: Sarawak is increasingly gaining a reputation as a hub for beauty pageants with events such as the Miss World Malaysia and Miss Cultural Harvest Festival (MCHF) being held in the state.
There are a plethora of other beauty pageants being held here over the years and the number seems to be increasing.
However, there are still perceptions that these events are mere vanity window to show off bodies, quite contradictory to the conservative nature of most Malaysians.
To gauge if this negative perception holds water we interviewed some personalities for their take of the matter.
Event director for the upcoming 21st Miss Cultural Harvest Festival, Zaini Zainuddin did not agree with the perception.
To him if such were true the event he is helping to produce would not have lasted 21 years.
“Sarawak is conservative but if we do things right like we have done over the years, beauty pageants can become a platform to transform shy girls into confident women,” said Zaini.
Zaini continued, “It really depends on the organiser. For instance, we never included a swimsuit category in our pageant but instead we switched to cultural outfit.”
Zaini explained that their main goal in organising the event had always been to create a sustainable tourism product and to help Sarawak lasses gain experience and knowledge to help them pursue their chosen careers with confidence.
He reminisced, “We had many complaints in the beginning with some parents accusing us of all sorts of things but in retrospect the same parents later congratulated us for transforming their daughters into confident women.
“Some of the girls, such as 2015 winner Jean Seymour Harry, a mixed Iban/Indian girl, came in with very boyish attributes and no interest in any career, but when she left she was a polished woman with ambitions and is now pursuing her tertiary education.”
2018 winner Melinda Peter Jinep (19) also disagrees with the negative perception on beauty pageants particularly the Miss Cultural Harvest pageant.
She said, “Most or all the people who are criticising it never participated in a pageant before, so they never experienced the process and just don’t know what they are talking about.
“They really don’t understand what goes into the preparation in terms of self- grooming, learning public speaking whilst keeping our composure, appearance and confidence on stage.” She lamented.
Another alumnus of the pageant Jean Seymore Harry disagrees with the negative comments as well.
The 22-year-old is now undergoing a bachelor’s degree in TESL (Teaching English As a Second Language) as a result of her win in 2015.
She explained that before participating in the event in 2015 she never saw herself continuing school let alone going to university.
“Whilst preparing for the finals back then I realised I had more to offer the world and decided to challenge and better myself.” She explained.
Jinah Pengabang, 59, a mother of one of the aspirants in this year’s MCHF felt that people were entitled to their opinions but she decided to support her daughter all the way.
The Sri Aman born lady who lives in Miri came to Kuching after 40 years just to show support for her daughter, and she feels that parents should encourage their children more than criticising their choices.
When asked if she came out of fear that her daughter might get led astray, she said, “There is no such feeling in me because I trust her choices, and I came purely to watch, and support her also.”
She knew the event was reputable and she even used Dewi Liana Seriestha, winner of the 2010 event and the Miss World Talent in 2014, as an example of how events such as this can help elevate the status of the girls.
The general consensus amongst those interviewed was that girls who want to participate in pageants have to choose the right ones so that they can create for themselves a better future.
The Miss Cultural Harvest Festival will be held on April 26 at the Sarawak Cultural Village in conjunction with the Sarawak Harvest and Folklore Festival 2019.
