Vanessa crowned new Miss Universe Malaysia

Bevy of beauties: (From left) Tan, Vanessa, Jagan and Sugeeta at the Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. — GLENN GUAN / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: After a month of intense training, stiff competition and televised challenges, 24-year-old Vanessa Tevi Kumares was crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2015.

The tourism management graduate of Indian-Chinese parentage from Seremban shed tears of joy, which quickly dried up as she received the crown and sash from her predecessor, Miss Universe Malaysia 2014 Sabrina Beneett, just after midnight.