Suljirina crowned harvest queen

BERAWAN lass, Suljirina Lucas, 27, from Miri, has been crowned Miss World Harvest Festival 2011.

A town planner by profession in the civil service, she won the pageant with her exquisite inner and outer beauty and wide knowledge of Sarawak tourism.

During the question and answer session, among others, she impressed the judges and audience by saying that Sarawak possessed vast tourism attractions and the unique selling point laid in its diversity.

“Sarawak is diverse in ethnicity, cultures, festivals and food while the state provides adventures to those who seek it and they can either go for the national parks, beaches or mountains,” she said at the pageant’s grand finale at Sarawak Cultural Village near here on Saturday night.

Speaking to reporters later, Suljirina said she was both shocked and overjoyed with her win as the other contestants were equally good and competitive.

She said she planned to share some of her prizes comprising RM3,000, an Emilio Valentino watch valued at RM1,000, air tickets from MASwings and Firefly and complimentary stays at Grand Margherita Hotel, Riverside Majestic Hotel and Damai Beach Resort with other contestants who had become good friends during the pageant.

She also won a scholarship to study a diploma course in tourism management at Segi College Sarawak.

The first runner-up was to Liyana Eddie Eskal Eyaw, 20, of mixed parentage of Malay and Chinese. The Kuching lass received RM2,000.

Princess Alma Ridi, 20, an Iban from Miri was the second runner-up. She received RM1,000.

Both women also received an Emilio Valentino watch valued at RM1,000, air tickets from MASwings and Firefly and complimentary stays at Grand Margherita Hotel, Riverside Majestic Hotel and Damai Beach Resort.

Tourism and Heritage Minister Datuk Abang Johari Tun Openg’s wife Datin Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang gave away the prizes.

Nor Faizah Abdul Latif, 18, won the Miss Photogenic title, while Miss Beautiful Eyes went to Zaimeera Zada Amir Zadah, 21; Miss Congeniality went to Ashiela Bakri, 19; and Best Traditional Costume went to Melliane Stufher Johnson Kayus, 19. They each received RM700.

This year’s pageant theme was on the Bidayuh community, with the finalists paraded in traditional Bidayuh costumes.

Sarawak Cultural Village hosted the pageant, one of the events held as a prelude to the Gawai, in collaboration with the Tourism and Heritage Ministry and with support from a host of government agencies and corporate companies.

This year’s festival was celebrated on a grander scale with participation of cultural troupes from Bangladesh (Nitto Rong Organisation), Sabah (Batambul Rungus Matunggong), Kumpulan Kesenian Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, Ismail Jejaka who played music from a saw and the golden ring ladies of Kampung Semban, Puncak Borneo near Kuching.

A series of workshops were also held for visitors to share and learn about each other’s traditions, dances and music.