ETHNIC SARAWAK BEAUTIES: Miss Sarawak Ethnic (Dayung Pimaguh) Marie Assunta flanked by first runner up Elssey Lessianna Richard (right) and second runner up Crister Pin after the crowning at Complex Craft Malaysia Kuala Lumpur.
KUALA LUMPUR: Marie Assunta Lester Rijed, a Bidayuh lass from Kuching, is Miss Borneo Ethnic 2013 held in Kuala Lumpur recently.
The finalists in the first contest of its kind to be held in conjunction with the Borneo Hornbill Festival 2013 were chosen from winners in the Iban, Orang Ulu, Bidayuh and Sabah ethnic categories.
Marie, a sixth former from SMK St Joseph Kuching, was earlier crowned Miss Sarawak Ethnic Bidayuh.
She beat three other contestants to the Miss Borneo Ethnic title.
Others vying for the coveted title were Miss Sabah Ethnic Jun Mitchelle Maisi, Miss Sarawak Ethnic Orang Ulu (Keligit) Vivian Mering and Miss Sarawak Ethnic Iban (Kumang) Shirly Jameli
Marie Assunta, 18, was selected by a panel of celebrity judges including Miss Malaysia World 2011 Chloe Chen, Miss Malaysia World 2011 first runner-up Pamela Fen, Miss Universe 2012 finalist Genevie Wan Anyie, Mr Kaamatan 2012 Juanis Mering and fashion designer Aaron G Von Jolly, one of the organisers of the annual event held in Complex Craft Malaysia here.
After convincing the judges in the Q&A in Miss Sarawak Ethnic a day earlier, Marie Assunta was expected by everyone to bag the grand title.
She said winning the title was a big achievement for her as she was only first runner-up in ‘Dayung Pimaguh Bisapug’ contest last year.
A believer in the principle of ‘surrender and acceptance, not struggle’, she claimed she was a spiritual person and listed her hobbies as travel, running, dancing and singing.
Meanwhile, the Mr Borneo Ethnic title went to Mr Sarawak Ethnic (Keling) Brandon Daby 19, who nudged out Mr Sabah Ethnic Ray Adrian Gusup 22,
There were 16 contestants for the Mr Borneo Ethnic while the Miss Borneo Ethnic had 30 participants.
The four-day Borneo Horbill Festival was organised by Persatuan Warisan Sarawak, a cultural and heritage tourism NGO based in Kuala Lumpur.
The pageant’s organiser who is also president of Warisan Sarawak, Dr Lawrence John said the judging was based on traditional ethnic dress, evening gown and interview with focus on culture and heritage.
Miss and Mr Borneo Ethnic received prizes in the form of ASB investment scheme worth RM10,000, undisclosed amount of cash, plane tickets and trophy.