A five-year-old finalist and a contestant aged 51 shared the runway as 40 finalists take part in the Miss Malaysia Kebaya Grand Final 2026, held in conjunction with the Malaysia International Craft Festival (MICF) 2026 during the weekend.
Taking place at Laman Wau, Kraftangan Malaysia, the grand final offers a colourful, visual celebration of the kebaya across generations. The finalists will compete in five categories - Children, Teens, Adults, Elite and Classic - showing how a cherished garment can be interpreted by different ages, personalities and generations.
The event brought together strong visual and human-interest stories: young and mature finalists on one runway, kebaya designs from participating creative teams, cultural performances, the excitement of the final judging and the crowning of five category winners.
The event’s theme, “One Kebaya, Many Cultures, Every Generation,” reflects Miss Malaysia Kebaya’s aim to celebrate cultural identity, encourage appreciation of Malaysian heritage and create a platform for women and girls to express their confidence through fashion and pageantry.
The programme also included the presentation of MFMPA Awards and the appointment of the MMK Tourism & Cultural Ambassadors 2026. Performances by Miika and Jessica and two kebaya and Malaysian heritage fashion showcases also accompanied the programme.
The fashion showcases feature creative contributions from KMC for Teens and Kids, Emerald Green, Rasyah Group, Nabilah Sulaiman, SP Heritage, Joanne Lam Image Consultancy, Aireenz Fashion, Qachaq Exclusive Collection, WLS Modelteam and Dark Dreamerzz.
Organising Chairman Dr Jason Hee said: “The kebaya connects generations through its beauty, craftsmanship and cultural meaning. We are proud to see finalists from five years old to 51 and above share the same stage. We hope their stories and the designs presented tomorrow encourage more people to appreciate the heritage represented by the kebaya.”
Among the stars of the day was Olivia Foo Hui Xuan, who won the Teens section. The 16-year-old from Penang is a student at the Penang Chinese Girls' Private High School.
Olivia thanked her parents for the victory as they were her biggest support in taking part in the competition.
"I am from a Baba Nyonya family, and many of us love the kebaya. It was natural for me to fall in love with Kebaya from a young age. As I grew older, I learned that the kebaya carries a lot of history that has been passed down through generations, and I am proud to be part of my Nyonya family. I hope I can be able to inspire younger generations to embrace and preserve our beautiful Baba Nyonya culture.
The other headliner at the event was Emeraazwa Emeraldi, the winner of the main competition. The Sabah-born Emeraazwa is a graduate of a Business Management degree from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS.
Also a freelance model, Emeraazwa said she was very proud to win a national kebaya contest as she always had a passion for culture and fashion.
"I love kebaya because it represents the identity, heritage and elegance of a Malaysian woman. I admire how the kebaya can preserve our traditional roots while still evolving with modern fashion. Wearing kebaya makes me feel connected to my roots while also allowing me to represent Malaysia’s rich and diverse culture," she said.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
Children: 1. Adriana Nurhaziqah, 2. Lee Ke Ying, 3. Puteri Aeisya Amanda
Teens: 1. Olivia Foo Hui Xuan, 2. Iris Goh, 3. Nur Irdina Qaisara Mohd Syukur
Adults (Main event): 1. Emeraazwa Emeraldi, 2. Rieeykohh Tang Syn Yee, 3. Nur Suhaina Rijal
Elite: 1. Jennifer Teoh Yong China, 2. Christy Yeoh Sook Luan, 3. Zarith Zuraidah Salim.
Classic: 1. Cheng Hooi Lin, 2. Ho Teng Peng, 3. Leong Yee Mooi.
