Amanda Ong, 38, from Selangor has been crowned Mrs Malaysia Universe 2022, and Rachel Saw, 45, also from Selangor won the elite category as Mrs Elite Malaysia Universe 2022.
The Mrs Malaysia Universe & Mrs Elite Malaysia Universe Pageant, held on July 9 at Mega Star Arena, Kuala Lumpur, featured contestants in two age groups – Mrs Malaysia Universe (10 contestants, age 25 to 40) and Mrs Elite Malaysia Universe (15 contestants, age 41 to 65).
Madam Lim Siew Cheng, managing director of Yinzi Event & Marketing and organizer of Mrs Malaysia Universe 2022 pageant said both Amanda Ong and Rachel Saw will go on to represent Malaysia in upcoming international pageants.
Ong was elated and completely overtaken by emotion while receiving the crown from Mrs. Malaysia Universe 2019 Sophia Mohd Noor.
“I feel like I’m floating on cloud nine. The feeling is euphoric. I was overwhelmed with so much emotions that I burst into tears. To be able to beat such a competitive field of contestants is no easy task,” Ong said after winning her first pageant title.
“I am proud to have won the title. By no means did I win it on my own steam. I would like to thank my mom, my friends, sponsors, organizers, their back stage crew, and supporters for their untiring encouragement and morale support through this journey, and last but not least my fiancé who is the pillar behind all my endeavours,” added Ong.
Apart from winning the champion title, Ong, a private banker in a local bank, also won three subsidiary titles of Best Eloquence, Most Popular and Best Talent. She also grabbed the TBC Elektrik Ambassador award.
“Winning this title will provide me the platform to enhance my individualism and to project my image beyond my wildest dreams.
“During the course of participation and gruelling practices leading up to the finals, I have begun to see that perseverance knows no boundaries. My fellow contestants have truly earned my respect for they have sacrificed so much of their time and put in their best efforts to enter the finals,” she said.
The mother of a four-year-old daughter said her natural ability to connect and interact comfortably with people was her biggest strength in her journey to the crown.
“Perseverance and commitment to the cause is also something of a second nature to me.”
Ong said the most challenging aspect of the competition was the talent show performance.
“I chose to perform a combi of ballet dance and K-pop. I have never had any formal dance coaching so I discussed with a friend who runs a dance studio called Arabesque Dance Academy. She trained me from the basics. Each training session averaged about 2.5hrs. Time management is very challenging especially having to rush off immediately from work to the dance studio for almost every day of the week,” said Ong.
Ong revealed that it was her own inspiration to join a beauty pageant and her patience has been rewarded.
“The inspiration came from within me. As a teenager growing up, it has always been my dream to be a beauty queen. However, this dream had to be put on hold as I had to pursue a career whilst raising my little daughter. This dream was then reignited when I came across the Mrs Malaysia Universe pageant,” she said.
For Ong, beauty pageants are not about beauty and brain, they do empower women.
“Pageants promote goal setting and self-determination. It ultimately empowers women to be the best versions of themselves.”
Success, according to Ong, is not necessarily measured by high positions and wealth. “To be able to achieve your personal goal in life is in itself success. I would venture to add that a person who has attained happiness and contentment can also be considered as successful.”
For Saw, a businesswoman and a mother of three children aged 12, 14 and 16, she was overjoyed when her name was announced as the winner of the Mrs Elite Universe Malaysia 2022, given that this was her first pageant.
“I am overjoyed with the result. I am the new Mrs Elite Malaysia Universe 2022 champion. I have to believe this dream, the wildest dream in my life. I’m blessed, thankful and hopeful for the journey that lies ahead.
“My life has been a beautiful ride for the past 3-month pageantry journey. My new chapter of life has just begun,” said Saw, who also won two subsidiary titles of Best Eloquence and Most Potential.
Saw, who was born in Penang and now resides in Subang Jaya, said the most challenging part of the competition was getting on stage in front of a live audience, something she had never done. It was a whole new experience for her but she stood out from the rest.
“I am not a stage person. This was the biggest stage of my life. On the final night, considering I was new, I felt slightly nervous that something might go wrong. I had to be confident and I performed my best.
“I always have an open heart and it was my first time participating in a pageant without any expectations. I practised hard to present the best version of myself, to inspire others and of course to have fun and enjoy myself.”
Like Ong, Saw sees beauty pageants as a good platform for empowerment, not just about the physical beauty of the women.
“It is a powerful platform to transform a woman into super power woman. Why I say this? It makes the impossible possible. Women power is unstoppable,” she added.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
MRS MALAYSIA UNIVERSE 2022
Champion : Amanda Ong
1st Runner-Up : Jenny Chong
2nd Runner-Up : Liya Red
3rd Runner-Up : Elaine Chee
4th Runner-Up : Quinx
Subsidiary Titles
Best Skin : Liya Red
Best Eloquence : Amanda Ong
Best Smile : Quinx
Best Courage : Elaine Chee
Most Photogenic : Susannah
Most Potential : Jenny Chong
Best Fitness : Alice Lai
Most Elegant : Alicia Lye
Best Catwalk : Jenny Chong
Most Energetic : Elaine Chee
Most Popular : Amanda Ong
Most Confident : Eva Lim
Best Personality : Nicoley Low
Most Congeniality:Quinx
Best Talent : Quinx, Jenny Chong and Amanda Ong
Best Supportive Husband : Jenny Chong & Jimmy Chu and Eva Lim & David Kwok
TBC Elektrik Ambassador : Amanda Ong
MRS ELITE MALAYSIA UNIVERSE 2022
Champion : Rachel Saw
1st Runner-Up : Shelly Low
2nd Runner-Up : Anna Ong
3rd Runner-Up : Lelle Chai
4th Runner-Up : Hannah Chen
Subsidiary Titles
Best Skin : Hannah Chen
Best Eloquence : Rachel Saw
Best Smile : Xharene
Best Courage : Anna Ong
Most Photogenic : Penny Kan
Most Potential : Rachel Saw
Best Fitness : Penny Kan|
Most Elegant : Lelle Chai
Best Catwalk : Tina Lim
Most Energetic : Anna Ong
Most Popular : Lelle Chai
Most Confident : Devi
Best Personality : Hannah Chen
Most Congeniality: Xharene
Best Talent : Tina Lim, Rita and Anna Ong
Best Supportive Husband : Hannah Chen and Jabez Lim
TBC Elektrik Ambassador : Shelly Low
