Yasoda Rue Yi from Perak was crowned the new Miss Malaysia Kebaya 2022 during the Miss Malaysia Kebaya 2022 gala night held at Parkroyal Collection Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on October 30, 2022.
The 24-year-old AirAsia cabin crew looked shock after the announcement of her victory.
“It feels so surreal, I still have to pinch myself several times. I remember my jaw dropped when the emcee announced my name as the winner.
“It is such an honour and great responsibility to be crowned as Miss Malaysia Kebaya,” she said.
Now holding a title in Miss Malaysia Kebaya, Yasoda believes being a cabin crew with AirAsia has given her a great opportunity to promote the kebaya across the globe.
“I am an ambassador with the brand. I also fly with different people every day so I can use it as an opportunity to tell people more about the kebaya.”
Yasoda, at 171 cm (5’ 7”) tall, said she had to juggle her job for the Miss Malaysia Kebaya competition.
“I juggle my full-time job with being a cabin crew and a pageant contestant. This is a challenge but I’ve learned a good method in time management.”
When asked about her idea of success and happiness, Yasoda said, “To me, happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
“I see myself as a senior to offer encouragement and giving the right advice for all Miss Malaysia Kebaya participants in a year’s time from now as the current queen.”
Yasoda loves arts and crafts and filled her free time with belly dancing and gardening.
Also crowned is the new Mrs Malaysia Kebaya 2022 Joanne Kwan, 42, a professional event emcee, who said she was proud to win the title.
“I was excited when the emcee announced my name as the winner. This is my bucket list, to join a Mrs Malaysia pageant and I strike one!
“It was pretty much a close call to be honest because everyone in my category is so up for it and they’re all good.
“I’m happy and proud to be Mrs Malaysia Kebaya 2022,” she said.
With so many beauty titles already under her belt, including Miss Malaysia Queen of the World, it came as no surprise this beauty won the title of Mrs Malaysia Kebaya.
“The secret to win is to have the mentality to win for a start. Self-doubt won’t get you far. You need to understand the dynamic of the pageant you’ll be joining, rules and regulations, take instructions from organizer at all times,” said Joanne Kwan, from Kuala Lumpur, who shares some pageant tips from her own experience.
“Don’t do the things they disagree with. Practise your catwalk, grooming, learn to be independent and never be afraid when it comes to Q&A. Always listen to the question.”
The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted Joanne Kwan to put her energy into learning something she’s passionate about and staying positive.
“I’ve been a professional emcee for 15 years. So I am my own product and business. But then during the pandemic I decided to further my studies in psychology and I’ve got my practice licence early this year.”
When asked to define her idea of happiness and success in her own words, she said, “My idea of happiness and success is to be the “ideal self” being happy achieving goals and dream by not just saying “I wish to wake up with a million ringgit” type of thing.
“Now the “ideal self” of me is to set healthy boundaries, saying no when it’s necessary as much as being as an empath if not knowing how to at times.
“Being successful to me, is being able to pay all bills on time and to work to a level that to put a tick on each bucket list I’ve listed out.”
As a trained psychologist and hypnotherapist, Joanne Kwan hopes to create awareness about mental health.
“Mental health is no longer a taboo subject to discuss about. Yourself matter not only physically but do take care of your feelings, needs and wants.”
Organized by Miss Malaysia Kebaya (MMK) Organization, the pageant is aimed at promoting Malaysia’s tradition, heritage and culture through the kebaya.
The event has the support of Ministry of Arts, Tourism and Culture (MOTAC) and Tourism Malaysia.
MMK organizing chairlady Nicole Fe Lynne thanked all those who made the event a success.
“I think this time for Miss Malaysia Kebaya 2022 I am very happy and satisfied we have expanded following overwhelming response from the public over the years.
“We have added different multiple categories to suit the age groups and marital status so that this would encourage women from all ages and different backgrounds to participate.
“The quality of contestants has also increased over the years.
“In MMK, we believe that age or background is not a barrier to promoting kebaya and especially unity in culture in a country Iike Malaysia,” she said.
“Miss Malaysia Kebaya is focused on an educational concept to groom and educate women about every aspect of being a beauty queen, and this will serve as a woman empowerment platform as well.
“No matter what our differences, every woman and children has their own strength and with guidance can be important in building beauty queens that reflect the country’s image and status to the world,” Nicole said.
The gala night also saw contestants crowned for the various pageant titles in six other categories: Mrs Malaysia Classic Kebaya 2022 (Age 46-65), Miss Malaysia Petite Kebaya 2022 (Age 18-35), Mrs Malaysia Petite Kebaya 2022 (Age 18-45), Miss Malaysia Teen Kebaya 2022 (Age 13-17), Little Kebaya Princess Malaysia 2022 (Age 9-12) and Little Junior Kebaya Princess Malaysia 2022 (Age 4-8).
Scroll down to view more pictures and the official result list from the event.
MISS MALAYSIA KEBAYA 2022 PAGEANT OFFICIAL RESULTS:
1. Miss Malaysia Kebaya 2022
Winner: Yasoda Rue Yi, 24
1st Runner Up: Noor Syahiera Nadia, 23
2nd Runner Up: Genevieve Goh Guat Hoon, 25
2. Mrs Malaysia Kebaya 2022
Winner: Joanne Kwan, 42
1st Runner Up: Norhaizah Abu Bakar, 43
2nd Runner Up: Kee Syuhadah Emran, 24
3. Mrs Malaysia Classic Kebaya 2022
Winner: Norain Karim, 63
1st Runner Up: Tong Tien Min, 48
2nd Runner Up: Ho Yuw Ming, 60
4. Miss Malaysia Petite Kebaya 2022
Winner: Puteri Lily Ayumi, 25
1st Runner Up: Aishwarya Krishna, 21
2nd Runner Up: Nur Shabrina Chong, 19
5. Mrs Malaysia Petite Kebaya 2022
Winner: Kavitha Supramaniam, 42
1st Runner Up: Rosalinda Busrah, 41
2nd Runner Up: Siti Aishah Md.Yusoff, 27
6. Miss Malaysia Teen Kebaya 2022
Winner: Bryna Ng Thin Len, 15
1st Runner Up: Nur Arissa Khyra, 14
2nd Runner Up: Puteri Nurthara Nabella, 16
7. Little Kebaya Princess Malaysia 2022
Winner: Nur Damia Norzaimee, 12
1st Runner Up: Mia Zahra Zulaikha, 10
2nd Runner Up: Nur Rania Ervina, 11
8. Little Junior Kebaya Princess Malaysia 2022
Winner: Sahana Sharmeni Vikneswaran, 8
1st Runner Up: Lee Boo Rong, 6
