SERIAN: Fernessa Corrie from Kampung Bunga, in Serian, won the Miss Grand Serian, Sarawak 2018 title in the competition held at Dewan Sri Riot on 03 March 2018.
The 20 year old Bidayuh lass will represent Serian in the state-level ‘Miss Grand Sarawak’ competition to be held in Sibu from 27 March till 31 March. In the Miss Grand Serian grand finale, Fernessa went home with a cash prize of RM 2,000, a sash, trophy, a bouquet, costume crown, makeup products by Mary Kay Sdn Bhd, products by Bakolstiwedes, Bridget and Marianne and Chuchu Bridal Boutique.
In second place was Melanie De Mensko from Mambong Serian. She went home with a cash prize of RM 1,500, sash, trophy, bouquet, crown, and make-up products by Mary Kay Sdn Bhd, products by Bakolstiwedes, by Bridget and Marianne and Chuchu Bridal Boutique.
Third place went to Jacqualine Ayong from Kampung Simpok,Serian who took home cash prize RM 1,000, sash, trophy, bouquet, crown, makeup products by Mary Kay Sdn Bhd, products by Bakolstiwedes by Bridget and Marianne and Chuchu Bridal Boutique.
The event was set to stand distinctively based on its own unique elements which are – Art, Cultural, Heritage and Tourism as a whole.
The grand finale was officiated by Dato Sri Dr Richard Riot anak Jaem, Minister of Human Resource Malaysia. During his speech, the Minister said the achievement of several members of the Bidayuh community in the international stage could only mean that the Bidayuh are not a “Jaguh Kampung”, (literally translated as ‘village heroes’).He highlighted the success stories of the Bidayuh such as Dewi Liana Seriestha, Pandelela Rinong and Gloria Corina Tiwet that showed that the Bidayuh were capable of taking on the world’s best and “with the grace of God,we might produce yet another beauty queen to grace the world stage”, he said to thunderous applause from the crowd of more than two thousand who came to attend the Miss Grand Serian finale.
Earlier, the crowd was treated to a 15- minute video specially made for the occasion, highlighting Riot’s many efforts to bring the community he served to a new and competitive level and how he nurtured a personal relationship with the Serian electorate over the years .
The pageant was organised by Persatuan Warisan Bumi Kenyalang,led by its president, Ferdinand Rayner@Ray. The main sponsor of the pageant was Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF).Riot was accompanied to the event by his wife, Datin Seri Betty Mincha.
The crowd was entertained by performances and songs by artistes, including Ricky El, Jocy Menti, AT Adau and Maya Band .
Among those present were Human Resource Development Fund chief executive officer, Datuk CM Vignaesvaran Jeyandaran, Human Resource Ministry’s chief secretary, Datuk Dr Ghazali Abas, Ghazali’s deputy (operations), Datuk Elias Abu Bakar, Perkeso Malaysia deputy chief executive officer, John Riba Marin, state Labour Department director, Jack Merudu, state industrial court chairperson Annie Solep, Tebedu district officer, Raymond Achen, temenggong, community leaders,councillors and members of SUPP Serian.
