Thomas Tan
Yogamathi Ulaganathan, 29, and Thiru Umaran, 33, both from Penang, emerged as female and male champions of Super Model Universe Malaysia 2022.
The finale took place in the Royale Chulan Damansara Hotel, Petaling Jaya on July 16, 2022, where 35 contestants competed for the trophy.
The duo will represent Malaysia to compete at the Super Model Universe world finals to be held later this year.
Contestants showcased their modelling strengths on the catwalk wearing local designers’ collections. These included menswear collection by Alex Lim, batik collection by Jonathan Kok and Farel Mikhail, evening dresses collection by Faridz Salleh and swimwear by Zanbra, among others.
Supermodel Universe Malaysia national director Ammetta Malhotra said she was proud her team, designers and contestants who went all out to make the event a very successful final.
“The designers outshone themselves this year. Their collections were fresh, new and a hit with the crowd and the models put in a stellar performance. It was gratifying to see the six months of training and workshops really paid off to produce a quality show,” she said after the event.
Notably, the competition also included international and teen/kid categories but they were not running for the international competition.
Speaking of her win, Yogamathi, a medical doctor at KKM Putrajaya, said: “I am very honoured, blessed and extremely happy to be the winner of this award.”
Standing 165cm (5′ 5”) tall, Yogamathi said the competition was a whole new experience for her and she learnt a lot from it.
“I have gained so much of good experience, positivity and self-confidence to embrace myself and my body through this pageant and I am hoping to achieve more of it.
“I would definitely use my voice to spread my advocacy to the younger generation on overcoming body shaming and promote self-embracement, to accept themselves as who they are and also to improve themselves mentally and physically. If I get to inspire a person’s lifestyle and mental health in a positive manner, that is a great achievement for me.”
Yogamathi initially worked at the Emergency and Trauma Department, Seberang Jaya Hospital and got her placement at Infection Control department at KKM Putrajaya a few months ago.
After moving down to Kuala Lumpur, she started to focus on her passion on fitness and modelling where she got an opportunity to enter into the pageantry world.
“The biggest influence has been my parents who encouraged me to go into the modeling and pageantry world. My father is an ex-kickboxer and my mother is very passionate about fashion and makeup.
“My parents are also fitness-conscious and they always encourage us to find our passion through fitness, body-goals and fashion. They always taught us to eat healthy and exercise regularly to maintain a good physique.”
Yogamathi was only 16 when she experienced her first Saree Queen competition at her hometown where she won second runner-up. The win paved the way for other pageants during her medical school period. She was placed in the top 18 at the Miss World Malaysia 2018. That year, she also won second runner-up in Miss Vogue India 2018.
“After that win, I started my housemanship in a hospital where I actually thought I had quit pageants and modelling. I was busy focusing on my medical career at that time and took three years break before entering back into modelling and pageantry. So, here I am today in Supermodel Universe Malaysia 2022.”
Yogamathi is currently pursuing her part-time studies on aesthetics medicine under the American Academy of Aesthetics Medicine and dermatology under the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia.
“I hope to explore more on skin, body and aesthetics to beautify people to make them feel happy, comfortable and confident as how they wish to be.”
Despite being new to pageants and modelling competition, Thiru won the Super Model Universe Malaysia title on his first try. He also won the Best Fitness subsidiary title.
Thiru, who stands 175cm (5′ 9″) said: ‘I am proud to be a champion of personal growth while building a new benchmark for Super Model Universe future contestants.”
Thiru said he won the 2022 Super Model Universe Malaysia title through teamwork.
“The love and support of individuals who believed in me, who possessed various skills required in this pageantry, and they are my team who worked along with me in winning this title.”
Thiru is a medical graduate and entrepreneur who is an aspiring model, and wants to make it big in the world of fashion. He has already made waves with his first achievement and is now more determined to achieve his goal.
He realized the medical profession just wasn’t for him. He took it to become an entrepreneur.
Thiru is the chief executive officer of a digital agency specializing in both digital and conventional marketing, as well as a director of a packaging factory in Penang.
“Because I felt it’s not meant for me and to have more time on personal and character development which I felt it’s more related to my life goals and dreams.
“My participation in Super Model Universe Malaysia helped me bridge the gap in my understanding of emotional intelligence which is the key to success in any industry. By this, I hope to reach success in my business and as an individual in my community.”
Thiru enjoys most of his time in the gym or outdoors doing extreme sports.
“I’m a fitness freak, besides this I love nature and I travel a lot to places close to nature free from the hustle and bustle of the city.”
OFFICIAL RESULTS
FEMALE:
Champion – Yogamathi Ulaganathan
1st Runner Up – Vanisha Kuharaj
2nd Runner Up – Agnes Liew
3rd Runner Up – Jessica Arasu
4th Runner Up – Chelsea Colette
Subsidiary Title
People’s Choice Champion – Agnes Liew
Best Talent – Cammie Chin
Most Photogenic – Vanisha Kuharaj
Most Popular – Jessica Arasu
Best Catwalk – Anuregkha
Best Fitness – Chelsea Colette
Best Figure – Cammie Chin
MALE:
Champion – Thiru Umaran
1st Runner Up – Vasanthan Sinnapan
2nd Runner Up – Muhammad Yusry
3rd Runner Up – Athavan
4th Runner Up – Eugene Joseph
Subsidiary Title
People’s Choice Champion – Vasanthan Sinnapan
Best Talent – Athavan
Best Fitness – Thiru Umaran
Best Body – Jason Veera
Best Personality – Eugene Joseph
Most Photogenic – Muhaimin
Mr Congeniality – Yusof Jamil
Mr Body Positivity – Kelvin Delmotte
Most Eloquent – Ruban
Promising New Talent – Spencer Tan
INTERNATIONAL MALE:
Champion – Bashir Tayari (Libya)
1st Runner Up – Sunny (India)
2nd Runner Up – Fouad Bashar (Syria)
3rd Runner Up – Jahangir Khan (Pakistan)
4th Runner Up – Josh Nero (Soloman Islands)
Subsidiary Title
People’s Choice Champion – Sunny (India)
Most Popular – Syed Hamid Hussain (Pakistan)
Best Physique – Fouad Bashar (Syria)
Best Catwalk – Jahangir Khan (Pakistan)
Promising New Talent – Mustapha (Somalia)
Grande Malaysia 2022 Ambassador – Bashir Tayari
INTERNATIONAL FEMALE:
Champion – Oliza Khan (Bangladesh)
Subsidiary Title
Best Personality – Oliza Khan
Diamonia Jewelry 2022 Ambassador – Oliza Khan
Grande Malaysia 2022 Ambassador – Oliza Khan
TEEN:
Champion – Ryan Liew
1st Runner Up – Suhaanikaran
2nd Runner Up – Sumyuktha Lissandra Khanum
Subsidiary Title
People’s Choice Champion – Sumyuktha Lissandra Khanum
KIDS (UNDER 12):
Champion – Chloe Law Zhi Ling
1st Runner Up – Bavisha Kaur
2nd Runner Up – Sandyaa Ruban
Subsidiary Title
People’s Choice Champion (Female) – Bavisha Kaur
People’s Choice Champion (Male) – Rhanadheeran
Photo Model Champion – Hansen Chua
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