Festival director Zaini Zainuddin (ninth left) with reigning queen Jean Seymour Harry (eighth right) and 15 finalists after the final round of selection for the Miss Cultural Harvest Festival 2016.
KUCHING: It will be a nervous wait until May 7 for 15 finalists who were picked from Saturday’s final selection round for Miss Cultural Harvest Festival 2016 held at The Club in Riverside Majestic Hotel here.
They are Kedung Ballang Kapong (21 years old, Kelabit), Decharmene Gibson (20, Iban), Syafeeza Sarjili (20, Malay), Trisdewi Trisno (24, Javanese), Tangerine Malison (19, Iban), Haziqah Hamdan (19, Malay), Darline Barie Albert (23, Iban), Emily Sara Chan (19, Chinese), Amanda Jane Simon (22, Iban), Stephanie Elizabeth Lydia (22, Iban), Catherine Luweny Lof (22, Bidayuh), Pricilla Christopher (23, Bisaya), Morgan Christinczy Baru (24, Lun Bawang), Nur Haziah Mazalan (22, Malay), and Nur Ashima Affandi (23, Malay).
They made the cut from over 50 applicants screened from more than 120 forms received by the organisers throughout the state.
The 15 finalists, who were chosen based on their physical appearance, personality and talent, will be vying for the title at the Grand Final on May 7 at Sarawak Cultural Village in conjunction with the World Harvest Festival 2016.
According to the festival director Zaini Zainuddin, this year’s pageant will be more competitive.
“This year, the main committee of World Harvest Festival 2016 received more talented, academically qualified and confident contestants compared to the previous years.
“The pageant goes beyond beauty to cultural shows from all over the world,” said Zaini, adding that the organiser has always been looking for a woman of quality and substance as the winner of the pageant.
Zaini pointed out that the 18th edition of the ethnic beauty pageant, previously known as Miss Fair & Lovely World Harvest Festival seeks a winner who has the grace and poise, articulate with a sound knowledge of Sarawak and its tourism-related subjects.
“Besides physical attraction, the winner must also possess talent, a friendly disposition, charm and the confidence that she could be our tourism ambassador.
“These finalists of the beauty pageant will parade in traditional Orang Ulu costumes,” he added.
The panel of judges this year includes Mister Malaysia Tourism Borneo 2014 Benjamin Lawrence, Mister Malaysia Tourism Borneo 2014 Ricky Kimwah, Miss Cultural Harvest Festival first runner-up Yvonne Ashley Lewis, and reigning title-holder Jean Seymour Harry.
The pageant was first introduced in 1999 and it is open to all single ladies of any background and since its debut, 17 beautiful ladies have been crowned as beauty queens.
Previous winners include Rowena Awa Ngumbang (1999), Shahida (2000), Fairozita Ramli (2001), Sharifah Norzuridah (2002), Farhana Zainal (2003), Marcella Shareen (2004), Easther Agatha Jitom (2005), Raden Ira Faraniza (2006), Hazel Desmond (2007), Pearlycia Brooke (2008), Jenet Bennet (2009), Ummu Khansa Romainoor (2010), Suljirina Lucas (2011), Magrina Awing George (2012), Rosalind Sajah (2013), Stephanie Johari (2014) and Jean Seymour Harry (2015).
For this year’s pageant, the winner of ethnic beauty pageant Miss Cultural Harvest Festival will walk away with cash prize, crown, sash and many other subsidiary titles.
This annual beauty pageant is organised by the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) as one of the programmes for the World Harvest Festival 2016 with the support from the Ministry of Tourism Sarawak (MOT).
This year, the World Harvest Festival 2016 will be held at Sarawak Cultural Village from May 6 to 8. Among other highlights of the 3 days 2 nights festival besides the Grand Final of Miss Cultural Harvest Festival include the live staging of an Orang Ulu legendary tale entitled ‘Dayang Bulan: The Moon Princess’, international cultural concert with interactive workshops on dance and music, the final competition of Ironman WHF 2016, Sarawak Ethnic Kitchen, Sarawak Crafts Exhibition and many more.
“So come down to the Sarawak Cultural Village from May 6 to 8 to be part of this colourful celebration. It is the perfect festival for those wanting to savour traditional music, dance, action and cuisine,” Zaini added.