19-year-old TARUC student crowned Miss Chipao Malaysia 2019

Looking beautiful and vivacious in a body-hugging chipao or cheongsam, Rachel Tee Hsu Xin, a first-year mass communication student majoring in public relation from Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TARUC), was crowned Miss Chipao Malaysia 2019.

The 19-year-old lass beat 10 other contestants to win the Miss Chipao Malaysia 2019 title at the Miss & Mrs Chipao Malaysia 2019 pageant final held at Tunku Abdul Rahman Auditorium Hall, Malaysia Tourism Centre (MaTIC), Kuala Lumpur on 9th March 2019.

“This is my first pageant win and I feel very excited and proud of my achievement.

“Honestly I’m quite shock as I am the youngest finalist among all. I thought it would be a bit of a challenge for me plus this is my very first beauty pageant so I might have lesser exposure compared to other girls. The odds were not in my favour but I was able to beat the odds and won,” Tee told Citizen Journalists Malaysia (CJMY).

Tee who stands 167cm (5′ 5.7″) tall also won two subsidiary titles for Miss Congeniality and Miss Popularity. She received her grand prize of a trip to South Korea.

Sherina Lim, 22, also a student, came in second-place and Mellanie Yew, 21, a dancer and instructor was third-place winner.

In the Mrs category for married women, quantity surveyor and business owner Tiffany Seow Mei Teng, 33, was named Mrs Chipao Malaysia 2019 beating 9 other contestants to take the crown. She also won herself a trip to South Korea

First runner-up was Constance Sor Soon Mae, 34, a businesswoman and second runner-up was Nooratiqah Adila binti Noorzaidy, 30, a stewardess.

For the International Chipao Queen category which is opened to contestants from all countries of the world, the crown went to 39-year-old academic principal Grachel Santos Suarez, from the Philippines. There were no runner-ups.

Tee, who was born in Malacca and now resides in Kuala Lumpur, recalled how she started joining pageants last year. She tried out for the Miss Universe Malaysia audition but didn’t get selected. She never gave up on what she really wanted to do. She made it through the Miss Multinational Malaysia audition and was selected as finalist but she did not take up the competition because it was held in Penang and she was just starting college in Kuala Lumpur.

She came to know about Miss Chipao Malaysia through Facebook. She entered for Miss Chipao Malaysia and won her first pageant. Her hard work and perseverance paid off.

“I always believe in myself and see the bright side in every situation. Now that I’m holding the title of Miss Chipao Malaysia 2019, I have a big responsibility to be a good role model to others and I will never stop learning new things.

“I’ve always worn the short chipao but have never worn long chipao before until I joined Miss Chipao Malaysia. I love the dress very much because I find it very elegant and lovely as it brings out the femininity in women.

“The chipao is a symbol of Chinese culture and tradition and reflects their ethnic roots. Most Chinese women would wear the chipao during Chinese New Year and on occasion such weddings and dinners.

“I would like to help promote Malaysian chipao and its uniqueness when I travel overseas as I am curious how they celebrate Chinese New Year in other countries,” said Tee.

On the pageant experience, Tee said it was fun and interesting during the boot camp since this was her first pageant.

“I did not stress myself out. I told myself I’m perfectly imperfect and I’m only here to learn. I learned a lot of many new things such as formal dining etiquette, catwalk, image grooming, how to dress according to our body shape and how to communicate well with others.

“I was assigned group leader among the pageant sisters but I have no problem managing people as I was previously an assistant head prefect in my school days.

“We have to be always ready to face obstacles and challenges. I always focus on what the trainers teach and I give my best shot.”

On her trip to South Korea as her prize for winning the Miss Chipao Malaysia 2019 title, Tee said: ‘I’ve always heard there are lot of beautiful places in Korea to see and good food. I’m a little nervous as well because this is my very first time travelling so far to a place I’ve never been before. I do look forward for my trip to Korea. I’m really excited and can’t wait to travel.”

Tee loves singing and often performs simple songs in schools and public events and her interests include acting and hosting as well as yoga and badminton.

Dr Jason Hee, founder and president of Miss Malaysia Kebaya (MMK) which organised Miss & Mrs Chipao Malaysia said the event was one of MMK cultural beauty pageants with the same object to promote Malaysia tourism, arts and culture.

“We chose to organise Miss & Mrs Chipao Malaysia around the Chinese New Year period to promote unity among Malaysians in line with this year’s theme of “Unity Through Cultural Beauty Contest.

“We are ready to take MMK to the next level by going international. We will be organising the first Miss Kebaya World pageant to be held in Malaysia by the end of this year with the aim to bring Malaysia and kebaya to the world map,” he said.

The main sponsor and partner of Miss & Mrs Chipao Malaysia 2019 was the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Among the sponsors were Emerald Brilliant (official chipao attire), Nottingheels (official shoes), Cyla Cyrus Beauty (official makeup and hairstylist),  Msquaresalon (official grand final hair stylist), Da Men Mall (official mall)  Resort Suites Hotel, Sunway (official resort suites), Brandavision (official LED) and Eric Lee, Joey Yap & Desmond (official photographers).

Official Results

MISS CHIPAO MALAYSIA 2019
Winner ~ Rachel Tee Hsu Xin, 19
First Runner Up ~ Sherina Lim, 22
Second Runner Up ~ Mellanie Yew, 21

Subsidiary Titles
Best Catwalk ~ Mellanie Yew, 21
Miss Congeniality ~ Rachel Tee Hsu Xin, 19
Miss Photogenic ~ Mellanie Yew, 21
Miss Eloquent ~ Noel Munyee, 23
Miss Popularity ~ Rachel Tee Hsu Xin, 19
Most Promising Talent –  Agnes Chung, 24

MRS CHIPAO MALAYSIA 2019
Winner ~ Tiffany Seow Mei Teng, 33
First Runner Up ~ Constance Sor Soon Mae, 34
Second Runner Up ~ Nooratiqah Adila binti Noorzaidy, 30  

Subsidiary Titles
Best Catwalk ~ Nor Azween binti Mohd Pandita, 36
Miss Congeniality ~ Zaidah Mohd Ishak, 55
Miss Photogenic ~ Tiffany Seow Mei Teng, 33
Miss Eloquent ~ Constance Sor Soon Mae, 34
Miss Popularity~ Yip Siew Yeen, 49
Most Promising Talent ~ Zaizana binti Zainal Abidin, 45
Best Talent ~ Tiffany Seow Mei Teng, 33

INTERNATIONAL CHIPAO QUEEN (ICQ) 2019
Winner – Grachel Santos Suarez, 39, Philippines

Subsidiary Titles
– ICQ Congeniality ~Pham Thi Le, 38, Vietnam
– ICQ Popularity ~ Grachel Santos Suarez, 39, Philippines
– ICQ Entrepreneurship ~ Grachel Santos Suarez, 39, Philippines
– ICQ Social Media ~ Jennylyn Nicole Factor, 20, Philippines
– ICQ Most Promising Talent ~ Jennylyn Nicole Factor, 20, Philippines