Thomas Tan
The Top 17 finalists were unveiled at the Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2019 Welcome Party held at D9 Thai Fusion restaurant in Sunway Giza Mall, Petaling Jaya on 16 December 2018.
The event kicked off with a welcome speech by Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2018 state director Jacqueline Liwanag Malabuyoc and followed by the finalists taking turns introducing themselves.
The official sashing ceremony for the 17 contestants was held where each of the finalists came forward as their names were called and given their sash and teddy bear by Jacqueline.
The shortlist this year showcased finalists who are between 18 and 26 years of age and comprised students, graduate model, executives, manager and freelancer.
Finalist No. 12 Rachelle, aged 20, a student, was the Star of the Party, as voted for by guests present.
The present of current beauty queens including Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2018 winner Taanusiya Veerapandian added the glitz, beauty and glamour to the event.
The Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2019 pageant final will be held on 16 March 2019.
25-year-old Diviya Darishanni from Taiping is an international business student and freelance part-time model. She said her burning passion and continued determination inspired her to join the Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur pageant.
“I am a never-give up oriented person, that is, to achieve what I love, never regret of my hard-works and what I wanted in my life ever since I was a young teen girl. I was an athlete runner in school when I was 14-year-old and a karate-do athlete at University Malaysia Perlis,” she said.
“I was grown up with a strict-oriented and business background Indian family. My parents wanted me to be an entrepreneur or to get good career. I put my higher education as a priority although I have dreams in pageant, modelling and entertainment industry since I was 17,” she added.
“Besides, my trust towards Miss Grand KL organization because it has all the framework and foundation to provide the know-how on what it takes to build a quality beauty queen,” she added.
Diviya is no novice to the beauty pageant business. The 168 cm (5’ 6”) tall lass participated as a finalist in Miss India Penang 2016. She won her first title as Miss Perak Earth 2017, competed in the national level Miss Earth Malaysia 2017 and won the subsidiary title of Miss Earth International Goodwill 2017. Early this year she reached the final of KBJ Ratu Kebaya 2018 in Penang but did not win.
“This is my 5th experience of being on pageant journey and I still enjoy competing. I’m preparing myself for more physical and mental challenges ahead in this pageant final.
“Through the ‘Stop The War and Violence’ campaign, I would like to advocate and spread awareness to stop adult abuse in the home to the younger generation and adults as I personally went through an emotional abuse when I was a young teen.
“Always remember to spread love and peace. Let’s invest good souls,” she said.
Diviya loves modelling and travelling to explore other countries and dreams to become an Ambassador or World Traveller one day. She also enjoys making new friends and creates new experiences.
For 21-year-old Kuek Ann Gie, from Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, a lounge executive at Air Asia Premium Red Lounge, KLIA, she is excited for the Miss Grand KL 2018 final.
“I joined the Miss Grand KL pageant because of its advocacy “Stop the War and Violence”. Nowadays there are many civilians including women and children who are suffering due to war and violence. I hope I can inspire others to be more tolerant towards each other,” she said.
Early this year, Kuek had won the ‘Best Evening Dress’ subsidiary title in Miss Sarawak Petite Earth 2018 pageant. She has been crowned Miss USCI Hotel Kuching, Sarawak.
Her strategy in preparing for the Miss & Mrs Malaysia Planet 2018 final was to do lots of reading and homework for more information on improving her knowledge and building self confidence.
“I want to do my part to contribute to world peace and become a successsful world peace icon and fulfil my dream to be a cabin crew,” said the 153 cm lass.
Kuek’s hobby includes watching makeup tutorial on YouTube and trying it herself.
Miss Grand Kuala Lumpur 2019 Finalists
- Sofhia Errin Timothy, 22, student
- Ojashinee Ganesh, 23, graduate
- Yap Jia Yan, 22, freelance model
- Nava Dhurga a/p Ithaya Chandran, 22, data management
- Chermaine Kang Yi Ting, 26, music school manager
- Anna Jhia-Jhia Tan, 25, bank executive (in Japan)
- Diviya Darishanni, 25, international business student
- Dharshini Jayanthi, 20, business student
- Ester James, 25, world traveller
- Rubini Kandhsamy, 22, sales consultant
- Anitha Subarmaniam, 26, account executive
- Rachelle, 20, student
- Kishweni, 18, student
- Janet Srawa Anak Andrew, 21, freelancer
- Kuek Ann Gie, 21, Air Asia premium red lounge executive
- Sabrina Marie Jude Thaddeus, 20, law student
- Harshini Ramachenran, 20, student
Admin
CJMY
