Johor executive ‘rules the earth’

FOR many, the number 13 is considered unlucky but for newly crowned Miss Malaysia Earth 2005 Jamie Pang Hui Ting, it proved to be the exact opposite. 

A newcomer to beauty pageants, the crowd favourite also took home the Miss Charming and Miss Crowning Glory subsidiary titles. 

Organised by Purnama Jelita Sdn Bhd, the national-level beauty pageant saw 19 contestants from Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Kedah, Perak, Malacca and Penang at the finals held at the Equatorial Hotel on Saturday. 

Pang will represent Malaysia in the Miss Earth World Finals in the Philippines this November. 

In his message, event organising chairman Boey Chee Kun said the objective of the Miss Malaysia Earth 2005 competition was to promote tourism and environmental empathy. 

Miss Malaysia Earth 2005 Jamie Pang flanked by(from left)fourth runner-up Chloe Lean,first runner-up Christine Lim,second runner-up Agnes Tan and third runner-up Choo Mei Sze.

The pageant kicked off with a tribal performance where “Tarzans” and “Janes” leapt out onto the stage to thunderous applause and pulsating drum beats.  

Decorated with colourful lights hung on twigs and branches, the stage was transformed into a magical fairyland as the contestants came out in all their splendour, setting the tone for the night.  

With celebrity MC Soong Ai Ling and RADO Switzerland ambassador and beauty queen Rachel Tan in attendance, the night was full of glamour and glitz. 

At the press conference, pageant winner Pang modestly described the win as “a fluke”. 

“Honestly, I never expected to win since this is my first pageant. I joined because I’ve always loved watching beauty pageants on television ever since I was a child. 

“I am really surprised that I won but I guess the judges liked my confidence and my answers during the question and answer session,” she said. 

Her whole family including her parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins turned up in full force to cheer the 23-year-old Johorean on. 

Pang said she intended to donate part of her cash prize to Eden Handicap Centre. 

“During the weeks running up to the pageant, we visited the centre and I was touched by the plight of the people,” she said, adding that the focus now would be to prepare for the upcoming international finals. 

On whether the win would mark her foray into more pageants and eventually a modelling career, Pang said she would take it one step at a time for now. 

“Well, if I get approached by a modelling agency, who knows?” the charming human re-source executive smiled. 

The first runner-up title went to Perlis-born Christine Lim Lee Ching, 22, who was also crowned Miss Body Beautiful, Miss Elegant and Miss Photogenic. 

Second runner-up and Miss Body Glove Agnes Tan Ee Lin, 21, is from Kuala Lumpur. Third runner-up Choo Mei Sze,18, an aspiring psychologist is also from the country’s cosmopolitan capital. 

Coming in fifth was Pe-rak’s Chloe Lean Peck Luan, 23, who definitely gave one of the best an-swers during the question and answer session. 

Asked what food would best represent Malaysia, the beauty immediately named the rojak. 

“Rojak is made from a mix of so many different kinds of fruits, just like the many different races and cultures in Malaysia. So to represent a colourful, multi-racial society like ours, you need a dish that is just as interesting,” she said. 

 

The Miss Malaysia Earth 2005 is endorsed by the Penang Government and supported by Tourism Penang and held in conjunction with the Malaysia Mega Sales Carnival.  

 

Cash prizes of almost RM15,000 and watches, cameras, cosmetics and accessories worth more than RM20,000 were given out during the night.