I’m not perfect, says beauty queen

Graceful gesture: Viru, who was crowned the Johor Unduk Ngadau last year, said that she is surrendering her title after the fiasco surrounding her holiday video.

KOTA KINABALU: A beauty queen has lost her crown after a video showing her having a good time with several male dancers during a holiday in Thailand emerged.

Viru Nikah Terinsip gave up her reign as the Johor Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen), which she won last year, barely hours after Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan announced that she had been stripped of the title.

“The title is not everything. It is about believing and valuing myself. The title does not determine one’s perfection or success. I am not perfect,” she said.

Viru, 24, maintained that “everyone makes mistakes”.

In a video posted on her Facebook page, she also said that she is surrendering her title.

The video of her Thailand holiday, which has gone viral, had led to public backlash.

In the footage, Viru is seen laughing and having fun with male dancers who were wearing lingerie.

It was understood that the central chapter of KDCA had proposed that KDCA Johor strip Viru of her title when the video surfaced.

A well-known beauty pageant, Unduk Ngadau is among the highlights of the yearly Kaamatan (harvest) festival in Sabah.

The pageant is organised throughout Sabah and also by KDCA representation in Johor, Penang and the Klang Valley.

Kitingan said yesterday that Viru was stripped of her title as her behaviour was unbecoming of a beauty queen that is supposed to represent the spirit of Huminodun, a mythological maiden with beauty in her heart, mind and soul.

“This would not be an issue if she was just an ordinary person, but she is an Unduk Ngadau (beauty queen) and a public figure.

“Some saw the humour in her video, some sympathised with her, and others were unhappy and complained about it.

“We (KDCA) do not want to be a target and attract unnecessary attention,” he said.

He acknowledged that Viru was on a private trip with her family to Thailand.

“We do silly things and get carried away when holidaying. If the video did not go viral, no one would have known it happened.”

He also said the incident should serve as a warning to all Unduk Ngadau in future to not repeat the mistake.

Prior to KDCA’s announcement, Viru had posted an apology on TikTok.

She spoke of her “carelessness” in posting the holiday video.

“I am thankful for all the beautiful words coming from netizens. Let’s focus on other issues and move forward,” said Viru, who is a content creator and entrepreneur.

“Most importantly, please leave my family and friends out of this as they are not involved in this matter,” she pleaded.

“It is up to you whether you would accept (my explanation), but this comes sincerely from my heart. Thank you for listening.”