The beautiful delegates who have represented the country of Malaysia at international stages have proved that they are not only pretty faces but also strong, confident, and focused towards their goal. They have worked very hard and dedicated their lives to represent the country as it is on-stage for the audience as well as the judges. Their advocacies and opinions have always inspired the people not only in Malaysia but across the world to do something good for the society.
Out of the all the delegates who have represented Malaysia, we’ve picked out 5 outstanding and very powerful winners who have not inspired and encouraged people during their reign but also post reign. They have shown immense dedication towards a better future and they are still doing their bit to make their world a better place. Let’s look at these powerful, inspiring beauty queens from Malaysia:
Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh represented Malaysia at Miss World 1983 on 17th November 1983 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK. She started her beauty pageant career at the age of 20 when she won Miss Malaysia beauty pageant and represented Malaysia at the Queen of the Pacific 1983 beauty pageant which was held in Australia and won the crown. While in Melbourne, she also won the Miss Moomba title. From there, she appeared in a television commercial with Jackie Chan which caught the attention of a fledgling Hong Kong film production company, D&B Films. Since her winning and becoming a successful actress in the industry, Michelle is known for several accomplishments that have launched her into worldwide fame both on and off-screen. Adding to an impressive acting career in Asia and Hollywood. She was appointed United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador in 2016 and promoted to the rank of 'Commandeur' in the order of Légion d’Honneur in 2017 by former president of France, Francois Hollande. Outspoken about various issues affecting marginalised groups and environmental causes, Yeoh has risen to become a fearless role model to men and women all over the world.
Lina Teoh represented Malaysia at Miss World 1998 on 26th November 1998 at the Lake Berjaya Mahé Resort in Mahé Island, Seychelles. Lina was adjudged as the second-runner-up at the end of the event finale and was also declared as Miss World Asia and Oceania 1998. After her success at the Miss World 1998 stage, Lina turned towards acting and expressed her passion for documentary filmmaking. She starred in movie where she played a neurotic librarian in theatre production Forever Tyreen and a singer in the multi-media play ‘Light Bulbs’. The role gave her the honour of receiving a runner up “Best Actress” award at the Asian Television Awards and a lifelong friendship with many of the cast and crew and with her castmate produced a documentary A Leader’s Legacy: Tun Abdul Razak on National Geographic Channel. In an interview with Tatler Malaysia, Teoh described one of her many goals in life in one simple statement: "To be a voice for those without one."
Soo Wincci represented Malaysia at Miss World 2008 on 13th December 2008 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is a singer, recording artist, actress, composer, celebrity chef, host, model, PhD holder and entrepreneur from Malaysia. She was a semi-finalist for the Miss World Top Model and top finalist for Miss World Talent contests. In 2013, she was selected by Hollywood's Independent Critics as one of the Top 100 most beautiful women in the world. Wincci states Dato' Sri Siti Nurhaliza as her role model and often encourages Malaysians not to be afraid of pursuing higher education even later in life, and remarked in an interview with Open University Malaysia: "I was not born ‘smart’ or lucky, I had to study.” In 2017 she wrote and produced her first book and audio book titled Inwinccible X. She also became a music producer by writing, composing and producing her self-created first motivational pop song titled "I Am X A Loser". It has had over half a million views on YouTube. Her Drama I Am Not a Loser was one of the highest rated Chinese dramas of 2017. She held her first motivational speaking tour giving talks at over twenty universities across Malaysia.
Deborah Henry represented Malaysia at Miss World 2007 on 1st December 2007 at the Crown of Beauty Theatre in Sanya, China. She was placed at the Top 16 at the end of the event finale. She later was crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2011 and went onto represent the country at Miss Universe 2011 where she failed to mark her place. Deborah started modelling at the age of 15 and later moved to London to focus on studies. She returned to Malaysia in 2007 and participated in Miss Malaysia World 2007. She has also appeared on the covers of Elle India, Harper's Bazaar Malaysia, Marie Claire Malaysia and many more. She has also been featured in Vogue India. Henry is the Face of Malaysian International Fashion Alliance (MIFA) 201. After her stint at beauty pageants, she turned towards hosting, acting and some product endorsements but she is dedicated towards her humanitarian work. Henry co-founded Fugee School, a non-profit charity organisation that provides basic education to Somalian refugee children. To date, the school has educated more than 250 students, and currently nurturing 130 students from age four to 22. Henry is also a World Vision’s Childs’ rights Advocate which is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organisation. She also speaks for the Harper's Bazaar the Pink Project PSA 2010. Henry became the ambassador for Yes, I Can Campaign, an educational, awareness & advocacy campaign for the prevention of unplanned & unwanted pregnancy in Malaysia. In 2013, Henry was included in Forbes’s list of top Asian philanthropists for her contribution in "helping the many refugees from war-torn Somalia who had found their way to Malaysia". Henry became one of Malaysian AIDS Foundation Red Ribbon Celebrity Supporter in 2018 joining the likes of Dato' Sri Siti Nurhaliza, Datuk Aaron Aziz, and many more to spread safe sex awareness in Malaysia. Deborah launched a book last year, ‘You're In, Not Out’, to share heart-warming stories that shaped the school. That same month, she was invited to moderate a panel discussion between former first lady Michelle Obama and actress Julia Roberts at the Obama Foundation's inaugural Leaders: Asia-Pacific event in Kuala Lumpur.
Shweta Sekhon represented Malaysia at Miss Universe 2019 on 8th December 2019 at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. She is local Malaysian Indian of ethnic Punjabi descent. Shweta was scouted online for Miss World Malaysia 2016 pageant and chosen as the official top 18 of the pageant. She was initially placed as the second-runner up but was elevated to the first runner-up when Ranmeet Jassal gave up her first runner-up title. Six months after the pageant finals, Shweta assumed the Miss Malaysia World 2016 title replacing the winner Tatiana Kumar, who was stripped of title due to "breach of conduct". Shweta is the first in the history of beauty pageants in Malaysia to receive an unprecedented double promotion. Shweta did not compete in the Miss World pageant. Shweta launched a campaign, #YourBodyYourSay as her Miss Universe Malaysia advocacy campaign in August 2019. She hopes to build a much more positive society who is not fearful of accepting their true and real, authentic self. As part of the campaign, she conducted sharing sessions at universities such as HELP University and MAHSA University.
