Sharifah (standing centre) flanked by winner of Sarawak Beauty Queen 1/2014 Cammielye Oliver Rega on her right in a group photo with the semi-finalists.
KUCHING: The Sarawak Cultural Queen 2016, a beauty pageant competition that highlights the cultural diversity of Sarawak, offers bigger and better prizes this year.
Organised by Persatuan Kebudayaan Gema Tujuh and Suria Violet Event Management, the competition aims to promote and showcase the unique and colourful cultures and traditions of Sarawak’s multicultural society through language, costumes and performing arts.
The event is supported by Ministry of Youths, Sports and Solidarity.
Organising spokesperson Sharifah Norzuridah Wan Ujang said the prizes were more attractive this year with the winner taking home prizes worth RM10,000 including RM2,000 cash, a unit of Demak Scooter and other sponsored items.
“We are delighted that this year’s event attracted more contestants especially young ladies from outside Kuching including Miri, Sibu and Bintulu as well as Sabah. There are two Chinese-mix girls representing their communities as well,” she said at the Preliminary Round Selection at a hotel here yesterday.
A total of 32 ladies from various ethnic backgrounds including Malay, Iban, Java-Chinese, Kayan-Chinese, Bidayuh, Melanau Malay, Kenyah, Berawan, Chinese and Lun Bawang will be going to the semi-finals to be held on Jan 21, 2017 at Merdeka Palace Hotel and Suites.
The grand finals will be held on Feb 18, 2017 at Riverside Majestic Hotel.
“From now until the semi-finals, the candidates will be going through training in dance, catwalk and performances and skills to enhance their stage presence before the audience,” she explained.
The contestants will also take part in outdoor photography session as well as charity ride before the grand finals.
Sharifah hoped that through the beauty pageant, more people would get to know the culture and colourful heritage of ethnic communities in Sarawak including their language, history, traditions, costumes, lifestyle, customs and so forth.
“We want to bring people in our community together and enhance our understanding and more importantly, understand our diversity so as to preserve and protect it from vanishing with the times,” she added.
The first runner-up will walk home with RM1,500 cash prize and the second runner-up RM1,000 as well as other sponsored items.
There are also prizes for subsidiary titles of Miss Photogenic, Miss Favourite, Miss Talent, Miss Friendly and Best Costume.