The 17 finalists unveiled at the press conference at Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on May 12 have one goal – to become the next Miss Chinese World 2023.
The beauties include an architect, a formulation chemist, a Molam singer and models.
The Miss Chinese World international beauty pageant that was started in 2005 with 36 delegates from 10 countries by Tan Sri Danny Ooi of Malaysia gathered Chinese beauties from around the world in the celebration and remembrance of Chinese culture, values and traditions, and has been contributing to the promotion of peace, goodwill, tourism and friendship among participants.
“With good blessing, we are able to have 17 finalists for the Miss Chinese World 2023 finals in Kuala Lumpur despite the difficulties of travelling restrictions faced by participants,” said Miss Chinese World pageant founder and organizer Tan Sri Danny Ooi.
He said contestants faced travel restrictions with the restart of the competition after a long layoff since the last physical final of Miss Chinese World held in 2017. This had caused 40% of delegates from China to be unsuccessful in their visa applications to travel out of their country.
For this year’s pageant, 17 contestants from different countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and host Malaysia, will vie for the crown and the Miss Chinese World 2023 title during the pageant finale.
The Miss Chinese World pageant accepts multiple entrants from a single country.
The 11-day pageant journey from May 12 – 20, 2023 will involve training, workshop, city tour of Kuala Lumpur Chinatown’s Petaling Street and Kwai Chai Hong, sponsors visit, Chinese temples visit and the grand finale.
The grand finale will be held at the grand ballroom of Berjaya Times Square Hotel Kuala Lumpur on May 20 or 520, a short term for May 20 that is homophonic to “I love you” in Chinese.
The champion, first and second runner-up will receive cash prize of RM8,000, RM5,000 and RM2,000 respectively as well as sponsored prizes worth more than RM30,000.
The winners will be selected by a panel of judges comprising seven former Miss Malaysia beauty queens who have made their names in various professions, namely entrepreneur, film producer, actress, influencer and businesswomen.
A total of 13 subsidiary titles adopted by sponsors will also be awarded, including Best In Talent (adopted by MetaLive), Best in Traditional Costume (adopted by Nuzezo Numbers Fashion Jewellery), Miss Symposium Elegant (adopted by Symposium Mansion) and Miss Prife Wellness Beauty (adopted by Prife International).
Key sponsors for the event include Prife International, OE EduGroup, Berjaya Times Square Hotel Kuala Lumpur and Peninsula College.
Peninsula College has allocated scholarships worth a total of RM75,000 for the Top 3 winners to pursue their education in various courses that can help them to reach new careers.
Philippines Anie Uson, who represents Manila in the competition, said it was a big life changing moment for her being her first international pageant.
She finished as a Top 12 finalist during Mutya ng Pilipinas in 2018 and was adjudged as second runner-up in Miss Chinatown 2020, both local pageants in the Philippines.
“I am excited to perform my best for my country,” she said.
The 26-year-old is half-Chinese and half-Filipino, plays violin and is a Saint Louis University, Baguio City graduate of Bachelor of Science in Architecture.
A registered and licensed architect, Anie works as a freelance architect, her job includes designing residential houses and other structures.
She also works as a freelance model for fashion shows and catwalks.
Standing 5’ 7” tall, Anie is fascinated about Chinese culture and traditions, and is learning more about them.
She said that if she wins the title, she would want to promote and share her knowledge of the rich Chinese traditional culture and traditions to everyone.
“The Chinese hold traditional cultural values of courtesy, harmony, righteousness, wisdom and filial piety which can be traced back to ancient Chinese culture to over many thousands of years ago.
“It is important to conserve Chinese culture because in some places it was starting to diminish as modernisation has resulted in the younger generations shunning their roots of traditional cultural values,” she said.
As much as she hopes to win Miss Chinese World crown, Anie’s next goal is to open her own architecture firm one day once she has enough skills to go out on her own.
The Filipino architect also enjoys drawing and painting.
Kittiyaporn Lanon, 25, representing Si Sa Ket, Thailand is a molam artiste who sings live in concerts.
She was born and raised in Thailand to a Thai-Chinse family. Her father is Thai Chinese while her mother is Thai.
Kittiyaporn, at 5’ 7” (170cm) tall, knows the competition is tough but she is putting forth her best effort to help her win.
“Competition is always a good thing. It forces us to put forth our best effort on the competition. For now, I am excited and would be enjoying the competition and putting on a smile.”
Kittiyaporn loves singing and dancing and her interests include travelling and cooking.
Her favourite Thai dish is making som tam, a popular Thai green papaya salad.
Freelance model Christine Lau, 27, who represents Kuching, Malaysia is excited to be a finalist in Miss Chinese World 2023, and is looking forward to a stiff competition.
“I will be prepared for the challenge, and will give my best in the final,” said the 5’ 10” (177 cm) tall beauty who represented Malaysia at the Miss World Noble Queen International 2017 pageant in Myanmar.
Lau said she has her sights set on the Miss Chinese World title.
“If I win the title, my first obligation is to inspire women to pursue their dreams, they can achieve things they never imagined.
“Secondly, encouraging more women to pursue higher education opportunities in business to help reach their career goals.”
Lau is currently in her last semester as a master student in business at Asia Metropolitan University in Cyberjaya, Selangor.
“I want to start my own business and be a successful entrepreneur in the beauty and healthcare industry.”
Lau enjoys hobbies such as Chinese opera singing and solo travelling.
She has travelled solo to many countries and the best country that amazed her most was Finland because she found the Finnish folks very nice, welcoming and open-minded, and that they enjoyed an easy and comfortable work-life balance compared to many other countries.
