Thomas Tan
Miss Malaysia Kebaya (MMK) organization has announced that the Miss and Mrs Chipao Malaysia pageant is making a return.
The pageant was skipped last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic will be held in virtual format this year.
This year will also see the return of Classic Chipao Malaysia, Little Miss Chipao & Mister Samfu Malaysia 2021, local and international Chipao Ambassadors Search and new addition Online Creative Lantern Competition.
MMK founder and president Dr. Jason Hee said the main objective of the annual events are to continue promoting Malaysian culture and harmony despite the pandemic and various lockdowns.
“In this time of great challenges, MMK intends to very much raise the mood of our fellow Malaysians, through engaging and positive activities that will bring each other closer together and in support of each other in the spirit of harmony,” said Hee at a Mid-Autumn Festival Chipao virtual press conference on Sept 2, 2021.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Mooncake Festival, is a traditional festival which falls on September 21 this year.
Hee said the events are being organised with fun activities for those who are in lockdown at home and would like to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with their family and friends virtually.
“During this Mid-Autumn Festival, we have the best opportunity to promote Chinese cultures and traditions and to highlight the diversity in our multiracial country, Malaysia, starting from the kids.
“Various agencies under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) are expected to support our prestigious event,” said Hee.
The virtual session was attended by Datin Salida Ibrahim, assistant secretary of the culture policy division of Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC). She attended on behalf of guest of honour Dr Tan Awang Besar, division secretary for tourism policy and international affairs at MOTAC, who was unable to attend.
“At MOTAC, we always support MMK events and we hope this event will give us more energy to work even harder during this pandemic. We thank everyone in this industry who always never give up to help each other and show to the world we can do this. We would like to thank in particular Dr Jason and the MMK team for making this monumental dream a reality,” said Salida.
Among others attending the event were MOTAC former secretary-general Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah, Mrs Chipao Malaysia 2018 and co-organizer Esther Michael, Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) women’s council leader Madam Joanna Kitingan, Malaysian Hairdressing Association honorary president Datin Winnie Loo, Glitterama Ladies Charity Group president and philanthropist Datin Maylene Ong, Malaysia Bumiputra Designers Association (MBDA) president Rasta Rashid and founder Bon Zainal.
Also attending were celebrity queens who included Miss Unduk Ngadau 2021 Maya Hejnowska, Miss Chipao Malaysia 2019 Rachel Tee and Mrs Chipao Malaysia 2019 Tiffany Seow.
Competition judges included Miss Cosmoworld founder Carrie Lee, Mrs Universe 2013 Carol Lee and Elpis Models Management academy director Eleen Yong.
The competitions are open to all Malaysians and expatriates in five categories which include Miss Chipao for ages 17 to 35, Mrs Chipao for ages 21 to 50, Classic Chipao for ages 50 and above, Little Miss Chipao and Mister Samfu for ages 3 to 17 and Creative Lantern for ages 3 and above.
Registrations have already begun since 20th August and will close on 15th September.
Hee added about 100 finalists are expected to participate during the grand finale which will be staged on 28th September 2021.
“Finalists will undergo special training sessions to produce role models with a good balance of beauty, brains and heart,” he said.
All competitions will be staged online and broadcasted live at the official Miss Chipao Malaysia Facebook page.
Prizes are worth more than RM10,000 in total, consisting of products and scholarships for the lucky winners in all categories of the Chinese traditional themed beauty pageant.
Also announced during the press conference was the “Do Something Good” campaign to provide groceries and other daily necessities for needy families who were impacted by the ongoing effects of the pandemic. It is targeting to raise RM20,000 to be distributed MYR200 per household/per family for a month of food supplies.
The charity fundraising event, which will run from September to November 2021, is initiated by the Malaysia Fashion, Modelling and Pageant Association (MFMPA) and is organized jointly with Selangor Fashion Week (SFW), Lions Club of Kuala Terengganu, Rotary Club Pantai Valley and JCI Kuala Lumpur.
For further details and registration, contact MMK founder and president Dr. Jason Hee at 012-9211486.
CJMY
