Top 10, London Qualifiers of Borneo Hornbill Festival (from left): Top 2 Mr Sabah Gideon Hilarius and Geo Allen George, Top 2 Miss Kadazandusun Shirley Anthony & Kimberly Vung, Miss Bidayuh Cynthia Arthur, pageant director Agustus Sapen, Miss Sabah Open Yvonne Andiu, Miss Orang Ulu Kirolina Kisun, Miss Iban Princess Alma Ridi, Top 2 Mr Sarawak Joshua Lennet and Octavian Pagag.
Miss Sabah Open 2016 Yvonne Andiu (centre), first runner-up Olga Wilnelia, second runner-up Mayzlyne Matius and third runner-up Enzlinie Tawang.
Mr Dayak Pride Alfred Keleman
KUCHING: Borneo Hornbill Festival (BHF) 2016 concluded recently with 10 grand finalists of the Borneo Ethnic Pageant due to fly to London this coming December.
The venue for BHF 2016 was Auditorium Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia Tourism Centre (MATIC), Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur.
Miss Iban, Miss Bidayuh, Miss Orang Ulu and Miss Sabah Open received the title of London Qualifier.
The top two contestants for Miss Kadazandusun, Mr Sarawak and Mr Sabah were also London Qualifiers.
Initially the number of participants shortlisted for the preliminary round were 17 vying to be Miss Iban, 14 for Miss Bidayuh, 14 Miss Orang Ulu, 15 Miss Kadazandusun, 11 Miss Sabah Open, 22 Mr Sarawak and 22 Mr Sabah, making a total of 115 participants .
The preliminary round on Thursday from 9am to 8pm saw 74 participants: 12 vying to be Mr Sarawak, 14 for Mr Sabah, 10 Miss Kadazandusun, 8 Miss Sabah Open, 10 Miss Orang Ulu, 10 Miss Bidayuh and 10 Miss Iban.
The preliminary round gave each contestant a maximum 70 points for knowledge of ethnic tradition and heritage, costume worn and a presentation on the cultural research conducted. Confidence, communication skills and personality also earned points.
A simple get together Gala Night was conducted at Aryan Restaurant Jalan Raja Laut on May 13 to allow the contestants to let their hair down. Most of them were dressed in impressive evening wear accentuated with Borneo motives and accessories.
The second stage of the preliminary round was held at Auditorium Tunku Abdul Rahman on May 14.
A maximum 30 points was at stake for the stage show where participants were given three minutes to impress the judges with their catwalk, introduction and facts on culture.
Some extended invitations to Borneo to promote tourism while others displayed skills in singing, poetry and dance. Most included their own interpretation of the ‘Culture & Unity’ the theme for BHF 2016.
Mr Physique and London Qualifier Joshua Lennet.
Subsidiary titles were awarded: Miss Photogenic was Sara Bernard, Miss Favourite Meryl Foster, Miss Body Beautiful Olga Wilnellia, Miss Dayak Pride Maretinie Belief, Miss Spirit of The Harvest Donna Magdavira and Miss Tourism Yvonne Andiu.
Mr Photogenic was Theodore Sunie, Mr Favourite Nick Walch Walton, Mr Physique Joshua Lennet, Mr Dayak Pride Alfred Keleman, Mr Spirit of The Harvest Muhd Fadhil and Mr Tourism Octavian Pagag.
The semi-finalists were Top 3 Miss Iban, Top 3 Miss Bidayuh, Top 3 Miss Orang Ulu, Top 4 Miss Sabah Open, Top 4 Miss Kadazandusun, Top 4 Mr Sarawak and Top 4 Mr Sabah.
The semi-finals on Sunday, May 15 selected BHF London Qualifiers for each category: Miss Iban, Miss Bidayuh, Miss Orang Ulu, Miss Sabah Open, Top 2 of Miss Kadazandusun, Top 2 of Mr Sarawak and Top 2 of Mr Sabah.
All 10 London Qualifiers will be competing for the grand prize of RM15,000 in ASB savings scheme.
The venue for the Grand Final is Asia House Hall, London, United Kingdom.
Their flight tickets, accommodation and meals in London will be fully covered by Borneo Hornbill Festival.
The grand finals in London will be held on Dec 10 this year.
Besides the semi-finals of Borneo Ethnic Pageant, the Borneo Ethnic Dance Competition 2016 was also held at MATIC on Sunday.
A total of six teams from all over Malaysia took part in the Ethnic Dance Competition covering two disciplines based on Borneo ethnic canvas: ‘Etnik Asli’ and ‘Drama Tari Etnik’.
Top 3 Miss Iban: second-placed Cindy Robert, Miss Iban and London Qualifier Princess Alma Ridi, and third-placed Jessy Gantle.
Top 4 Mr Sarawak (from left): second-placed Thurston Andok, London Qualifier Octavian Pagag, London Qualifier Joshua Lennet and third-placed Derran Chang Yon.