Sharon Liew, 38, a doctor of chiropractic and rehabilitation physician from Sabah was crowned as Mrs Malaysia Universe 2023 in the pageant final held at Mega Star Arena, Kuala Lumpur on July 29, 2023.
Liew also won the Best Catwalk and Most Popular subsidiary titles.
The second crown, Mrs Elite Malaysia Universe 2023 went to Mango Maria Tay, 50, a property broker from Selangor. Earlier she also picked up the Best Catwalk, Most Photogenic and Best Talent subsidiary titles.
Liew will represent Malaysia to compete in the finale of Mrs Universe 2023 to be held in Manila, Philippines on October 8, 2023.
The night opened with a number of dance routines performed by all the contestants. They then competed in evening wear and talent.
Apart from the top five winners for each of the pageant titles, three pageant ambassador awards were also presented along with a number of subsidiary titles.
Madam Lim Siew Cheng, director of Yinzi Event & Marketing and pageant organiser, congratulated the contestants for their dedication and determination shown throughout the competition and the winners for their outstanding achievements.
“Our organisation is about celebrating and empowering women and we are proud of your success and wish you continued growth and success in all your future endeavours,” said Madam Lim, a former beauty queen herself, with over decades of experience in the beauty pageant industry.
Madam Lim also expressed gratitude and showed appreciation to sponsors and partners for their support and contribution and her team members for their unwavering dedication in making the Mrs Malaysia Universe 2023 event successful.
“The sponsors have not only helped us to showcase the diverse talents of our contestants but also provided them opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity as well as thankful for the kind contribution,” added Madam Lim.
After winning the Mrs Malaysia Universe 2023 crown, an excited Sharon Liew said, “I am truly honoured to have won this pageant. It does take a few days for me to digest and register that I won. Honestly, I’m very happy, amazed and feeling on top of the world. Dreams do come true, believe in yourself.”
The mother of two children aged 3 and 2 hopes to improve herself before facing the international pageant.
She said, “For now on, my plan is to make my country Malaysia proud. I am doing everything to prepare myself to be the best Mrs Universe possible. I will put in my wholehearted effort to accomplish the best I can.”
Liew embarked into modelling and beauty pageants in her childhood. At age 18, she won her first beauty pageant, “Miss Sabah World 2003”. She has also competed in multiple national level pageants but has never won a national title and her best-ever finish came as runner-up.
She took an extended break from her passion to pursue her tertiary education as her parents wanted a positive future for her.
“I’m now a doctor by profession. I feel privileged to be able to help others, and I enjoy every day in my clinic which is a therapy and rehabilitation centre and has been in operation for the past 10 years in my hometown Kota Kinabalu.
“I’m a wife and a mother but my dreams of being crowned a national pageant titleholder had never looked further. My husband and daughters have motivated me to continue pursing my passions until I managed to win the Mrs Malaysa Universe crown today, and this being the first pageant after 20 years. It felt like a personal achievement. Now I feel really proud and honoured that I will be representing my country Malaysia in Mrs Universe 2023.”
When asked about her views on beauty pageants for married women, the beauty queen said, “Marriage shouldn’t be a barrier for a woman from working her goals to reach her dreams. By right, the husband and family should be the backbone, the number one supporter, the manager and the force for her to achieve everything that her heart desires even after marriage. There is still time for us to be all that we wanted to be.”
She said of women empowerment: “Women’s empowerment is the upgraded version of self-efficacy and self-sufficiency by being independent and bold to stand up for all women. Having this initiative is imperative for women out there to be inspired and continuously inspiring people.”
Liew hopes to improve herself further and deliver a more scalable impact in her community.
“Within five years from now, I will see a better version of myself. It’s time for me to give, to share, to create awareness and to empower people especially woman. I am a very tenacious person. I take things a little easy in simple step-by-step so that I’m able to focus entirely.”
Beaming with joy, Mango Maria Tay, who was born and raised in Penang and now resides in Petaling Jaya said winning the pageant was overwhelming as it was her first beauty pageant.
“I feel great and I’m honoured. I am really excited about what comes next and I have the responsibility now to carry the torch of light from Mrs Elite Malaysia Universe flaring brighter if not at least lighted.
“This is an incredible moment and I will continue to keep working hard and achieving my best.
“I would dedicate my voice to advocate for positivity and happiness,” said the mother of two.
The newly minted beauty queen said of her strategy: “Understand the big picture and learn what the requirements and how the systems work.”
Regarding married women participating in beauty pageants, Tay said, “Married women should find their self-esteem through healthy competition platform such as Mrs. Elite Malaysia Universe pageant. Each competition pushes us to bring out the best of ourselves. I see it as an opportunity of a lifetime.
“My daughter was my main motivation to enter the pageant. I wanted to show her that she could do anything she set out to do, and I wanted to be successful for my daughter to build her self-esteem and with encouragement so that she has the confidence to reach goals.”
Asked for her definition of success and happiness, Tay said, “There are many things that can contribute to success and happiness. Success is for material comfort. Happiness is the fruits for our soul. Both are needed to have a balanced quality of life.”
The official result:
MRS MALAYSIA UNIVERSE 2023
Champion – Sharon Liew, 38, Sabah
1st runner up – Celine Phong, 33, Perak
2nd runner up – Koh Li Li, 39, N. Sembilan
3rd runner up – Veronica Loke, 37, Perak
4th runner up – Hazel Lim, 39, Johor
Subsidiary Titles
Most Energetic – Hazel Lim
Most Confident – Koh Li Li
Best Body – Peannie Ooi
Best Fitness – Veronica Loke
Best Personality – Sembagam A/P Krishnan
Best Catwalk – Sharon Liew
Most Potential – Freya Yee
Most Photogenic – Celine Phong
Most Elegant – Sharene Lim
Petite Award – Valerie Chua
Best Talent – Shirely Fong, Celine Phong and Elisha
Most Congeniality – Elisha
Most Popular – Sharon Liew
Best Skin – Freya Yee
Best Courage – Shirely Fong
Best Eloquence – Elisha
MRS ELITE MALAYSIA UNIVERSE 2023
Champion – Maria Tay, 50, Selangor
1st runner up – Michelle Lim, 48, Johor
2nd runner up – Rachel Wong, 41, KL
3rd runner up – Caryn Wong, 58, Penang
4th runner up – Catherine Ng, 51, KL
Subsidiary Titles
Best Fitness – Caryn Wong
Best Personality – Yvonne Yee
Best Catwalk – Maria Tay
Most Potential – Winnie Goh
Most Photogenic – Maria Tay
Most Elegant – Michelle Lim
Petite Award – Caryn Wong
Best Talent – Iris Mendonca, Caryn Wong and Maria Tay
Most Congeniality – Rachel Wong
Most Popular – Michelle Lim
Best Skin – Rachel Wong
Best Courage – Michelle Lim
Best Eloquence – Catherine Ng
Ambassador Awards
Timeless Queen – Datin Mary Rasouli
Peace, Goodwill & Harmony – Puan Sri Susan Cheah
Women’s Icon Leadership – Puan Sri Datin Liana Lim
