Forty finalists aged five to 51 and above showcased the traditional baju kebaya on the runway during the Miss Malaysia Kebaya Grand Final on Oct 4 at the Malaysia International Craft Festival (MICF) 2026.
Organised by Miss Malaysia Kebaya (MMK), the event held at Laman Wau within the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex(Kraftangan Malaysia), brought together the finalists spanning vastly different generations on a single stage, modeling the timeless elegance of the traditional baju kebaya.
Under the theme “One Kebaya, Many Cultures, Every Generation,” the finalists competed across five age brackets – Kids, Teens, Adults, Elite and Classic.
The cultural showcase highlighted the timeless elegance and regional pride of the traditional baju kebaya while bringing together creative design teams, cultural performances and multi-generational storytelling.
The programme also included the presentation of the Malaysia Fashion, Modeling and Pageant Association (MFMPA) Awards and the appointment of the MMK Tourism & Cultural Ambassadors 2026.
Before the highly anticipated crowning of the winners, the audience was treated to special musical performances by Miika and Jessica, alongside two heritage fashion showcases highlighting the elegance of the traditional attire.
These showcases featured creative contributions from notable local labels and agencies, including KMC for Teens and Kids, Emerald Green, Rasyah Group, Nabilah Sulaiman, SP Heritage, Joanne Lam Image Consultancy, Aireenz Fashion, Qachaq Exclusive Collection, WLS Modelteam, and Dark Dreamerzz.
MMK founder and organising chairman Dr Jason Hee said the kebaya serves as an enduring bridge between generations by embodying timeless beauty, exquisite craftsmanship and deep cultural heritage.
“We are proud to see finalists from five years old to 51 and above share the same stage. We hope their stories and the designs presented tomorrow encourage more people to appreciate the heritage represented by the kebaya,” he said.
The grand finals were attended by several distinguished guests, including Tengku Dato’ Dr Hishammuddin Zaizi and Datin Hezeita Hafidz, Kraftangan Malaysia director-general Abdul Halim Ali, Islamic Tourism Centre director-general Mohammad Faisal Abu Suaib Khan and MFMPA chairman Dato’ Rashidi Hasbullah, Tan Sri M. Kayveas and Miss CosmoWorld founder Carrie Lee.
Sabahan Emeraazwa Emeraldi, 25, a freelance model who hails from Semporna and of Bajau heritage, won the Miss Malaysia Kebaya 2026 main competition. She is a graduate of a Business Management degree from Universiti Teknologi Petronas.
Jennifer Teoh Yong Chin from Penang took the winner’s title in the Elite category, while Christy Yeoh Sook Luan and Zarith Zuraidah Salim secured the second and third place runner-up positions, respectively.
Meanwhile, Cheng Hooi Lin from Penang won the title in the Classic category. She outperformed fellow finalists Ho Teng Peng (first runner-up) and Leong Yee Mooi (second runner-up) to secure the top spot in the category.
In the Teens category, 16-year-old student from Penang, Olivia Foo Hui Xuan won the champion title, Iris Goh was named the first runner-up and Nur Irdina Qaisara Mohd Syukur finished as second runner-up.
Adriana Nurhaziqah from Johor won the top spot in the Kids category, while Lee Ke Ying secured the second-place spot and Puteri Aeisya Amanda finished in third place.
