Cassandra Yap ends 58-year wait at Miss International 2023

In a historic and momentous achievement for Malaysia, Cassandra Yap, a 24-year-old multi-talented contestant, ended a 58-year-long drought by securing a place as a Top 15 finalist at the globally renowned beauty pageant, Miss International 2023, held in Tokyo, Japan yesterday.

Cassandra Yap’s remarkable feat marks the third time in history that Malaysia has successfully advanced to the Top 15 in the Miss International competition since its inception in 1960. The previous Malaysian representatives who accomplished this achievement were Helen Tan in 1961 and Linda Lim in 1965.

Venezuela’s Andrea Rubio crowned winner

The competition, which witnessed 70 contestants from around the world vying for the coveted title, ultimately crowned Andrea Rubio of Venezuela as the winner. Andrea Rubio triumphed over her 69 competitors, succeeding Germany’s Jasmin Selberg. The rest of the top five included 1st runner-up Sofia Osio Luna from Colombia, 2nd runner-up Camila Diaz Daneri from Peru, 3rd runner-up Nicole Borromeo from the Philippines, and 4th runner-up Vanessa Hayes Schutt from Bolivia.

Cassandra Yap, who leads a diverse career, working part-time in various sectors including modeling and content creation, displayed her extensive experience in beauty pageants. The rigorous evaluation process that determined the top 15 finalists began when they arrived in Tokyo on October 12 and culminated in the final stage held yesterday.

Apart from Malaysia, the Top 15 finalists represented a variety of countries, including Thailand, Panama, Mexico, Peru, Greece, Ivory Coast, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Colombia, Hong Kong, and the host country, Venezuela.

Cassandra’s stunning evening dress

During the final stage, Cassandra captivated the audience in a stunning green evening dress designed by Jimmy Couture. While she didn’t make it to the Top 7 round, which is the question and answer segment of the competition, her journey to the Top 15 was a significant achievement in itself.

Cassandra Yap’s journey to the Miss International 2023 Top 15 began earlier this year when she was crowned Miss International Malaysia 2023 champion on October 1 during the national competition held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Her success at the national level and her subsequent advancement to the international stage have made Malaysia proud, breaking a nearly six-decade-long drought in the Miss International competition.