I can’t describe how I feel, says beauty queen

BY MICHELE LIAN

3rd runner up A. Thanushi, 1st runner-up Andrea Ho, Miss Malaysia-Universe 2003 Elaine Daly, 2nd runner-up Rane Tey and 4th runner-up Jacqueline How.

KUALA LUMPUR: Elaine Daly, 26-year-old model cum actress from Kuala Lumpur, was crowned Miss Malaysia/ Universe 2003 at the Istana Hotel here last night. 

Daly, a clear crowd favourite, was visibly shaken when the emcee K.T. Pillay announced her name.  

Crowned by Miss Malaysia/Universe 2002 Karen Ang, Daly beat 16 other contestants to win the title. 

The law graduate also garnered three subsidiary titles; 2003 Miss I-Beauty Slim & Trim; Miss Love & Lace Photogenic and Miss Thomas & Guys Crowning Glory. 

“I am so happy that words cannot describe how I feel,” Daly told reporters after the pageant. 

When asked if she had expected to win, she said: “I don't want to appear over-confident, but I did think that I stood a good chance of winning given my modelling background.”  

The only child to a Chinese mother and Eurasian father, Daly said she planned to celebrate her triumph by sitting down for a good meal and a long chat with her family. 

Daly won RM5,000 along with a publicity contract worth RM30,000, RM2,000 crystal trophy, RM50,000 wardrobe, gifts from the pageant's sponsors and round-trip tickets to Panama, Central America, where she will represent Malaysia at the 2003 Miss Universe pageant on June 3. 

The first runner-up was Andrea Ho from Penang while second to forth runner-ups were Rane Tey from Johor, A. Thanushia from Penang, and Jacqueline How from Kuala Lumpur respectively. 

More than 800 guests attended last night's pageant including guest of honour Tunku Dara Tunku Tan Sri Naquiah Tuanku Ja'afar.  

The event was organised by Pageant Promotions Sdn Bhd.