M’sian beauty lets her talent shine

Proud moment: Dewi making her entrance with other contestants during the grand finals of the pageant at the Excel London ICC Auditorium in London. — AFP

PETALING JAYA: Everyone knows that Kuching-born lass Dewi Liana Seriestha is beautiful. After all, she is the reigning Miss World Malaysia 2014.

However, she amply demonstrated that she is equally talented by clinching the Miss Talent title at the Miss World finale in London earlier this week.

Dewi, 25, clinched the title after a live sing-off against Miss Scotland where she performed a stirring rendition of Don Juan Triumphant from the 1989 film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera.

“I am so happy. Even though I didn’t win (Miss World), I’m very proud with my achievement. It was all so surreal,” said Dewi, who finished in the top 16.

“God made me win this (title) for a reason, and that is to definitely inspire others with the gift of music,” she said.

Other than classical opera, which she picked up at the National Academy of Arts, Culture & Heritage (Aswara) – Dewi can also sing in over eight languages including Tagalog, Spanish, Mandarin and Hindi.

Of Bidayuh and Chinese Indonesian roots, Dewi has even written and recorded her own songs. The stunning songbird even acts - she has starred in RTM’s Kembali and miniseries Nilai Cinta Diana.

Dewi’s father, Yudhi, said that he was extremely proud of his daughter.

“We noticed her affinity for performing when she was just two-and-a-half,” said Yudhi, a musician in his own right, who nurtured Dewi’s talent.

Dewi hopes that her success story can serve as inspiration to other “small-town girls with big dreams”.

“Dream for as long as you can and always take risks,” said Dewi.