Set MALAYSIA'S BIGGEST, GREATEST AND ONLY BEAUTY PAGEANT IS MISS TOURISM INTERNATIONAL.
The 9 judges for Miss Tourism International 2012/13; left, Gary Yap, John Autelitano, Kee Hua Chee, Karmen Khor, Datin Sharmini, Datuk DJ Dave, Alvin Tay, David Kort and Dato Jallaluddin Hassan
Incredibly, this Made-In-Malaysia title is now a major and internationally recognised beauty title, almost on par with Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International, the planet's Top 3 titles!
Miss Universe is American, Miss World is British and Miss International is Japanese (though it started life as an American title).
The 16th Miss Tourism International pageant was held for the 12th time at Sunway Resort, Hotel & Spa, the best resort hotel in Malaysia.
Being an impartial, discerning and learned authority on beauty, I was invited by Datuk Danny Ooi to be a judge for the Pre-Judging on 27 December and Finals on 31 December 2012. Gosh that was last year and it has only been 24 hours!
We were told to be at West Lake Chinese restaurant at Sunway Resort, Hotel & Spa by 6.30 pm to avoid the jam. Being so kiasu, I took a taxi and arrived at 5.55pm and was the first, followed by top designer Alvin Tay. Alvin Tay is a hugely successful designer with a massive boutique at The Gardens which must be the biggest designer boutique in Malaysia. The rent must be crippling which proves he must be super successful or else how to pay rent? Alvin Tay also has another boutique at Fahrenheit88 on ground and mezzanine floor. www.alvintaycouture.com
Anyway we were taken to West Lake by Gigi from D'Touch International which organises Miss Tourism International which happens to be owned by Datuk Danny Ooi the founder of Miss Tourism International. Maybe I should try establish Miss Kee Hua Chee but then, maybe not.
Irene Liong, international pageant director joined us and she wore black like Alvin Tay. Bet everyone thought I was the designer and Alvin the writer! I also bet with Alvin and Irene the other judges would also wore black as if attending a funeral instead of a happy event. Even at my funeral, I will insist all my mourers wear bright, happy, colourful clothes as I would be entering Heaven so why should they wear black as if I am enroute to Hell! I mean, if I was going to Hell, then for sure my mourners should wear black in sympathy and sorrow but since my entry to Heaven is already double confirmed, everyone should celebrate when I die by wearing dazzlingly glamorous attire. However, no need to commission Alvin Tay to make any new garments yet as Buddha says I will die at 132 years old and that is some way to go from now and I may have to attend most of my friends' funerals first.
Where were we?
Oh, we had a delicious dinner at West Lake which was decked like a wedding with red lanterns and beautifully decorated with flowers and auspicious items.
Datuk Danny Ooi came to say hello and Irene Liong briefed us on various judging aspects. The total marks during the Pre-Judging on 27 December 2012 would determine the Top 10 finalists tonight and all previous marks would be erased for these 10 beauty queens.
After dinner we we taken to the VIP Holding Room to meet the VIPs headed by His Highness YAM Tengku Panglima DiRaja Selangor Tengku Sulaiman Shah Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah.
Tengku Sulaiman Shah is the younger brother of HRH Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor. He is a wellknown corporate figure and very popular with both rakyat and high society for his kindness, generosity and good sense of humour. He did not blink when he saw my patch of red hair on my forehead!
He only reminded me to send his photos to his ex sister-in-law Raja Zarina and complained Dato Nancy Yeoh the PR Queen had forgotten about him and never invited him to her glam-slam events.
Tengku Sulaiman Shah very graciously consented to stay till the very end of the pageant and even joined us for the After-Party!
I almost died laughing at the After-Party when HH Tengku Sulaiman Shah said he was taken to the wrong party! Said the Selangor prince, "I was brought to the wrong party and as I was drinking tea, I wondered why I never saw you or any familiar faces or the beauty queens! Then my PA asked and were told this was not the Miss Tourism International party!"
The judges; left, Karmen Khor ( Miss Malaysia Queen of the Year and top model), David Kort (international choreographer of Beauty & the Beast Musical), John Autelitano (General Manager of Sunway Resort, Hotel & Spa), Kee Hua Chee (greatest journalist this side of observable universe), Datin Sharmini Chor (beauty queen and organiser of Miss Malaysia Tourism 2012), Datuk Irwan Shah Abdullah aka Datuk DJ Dave the famous singer and Dato Jalaluddin Hassan (popular host and actor)
Finally the missing 2 judges joined us as they were either busy texting or in the loo!
Left, Gary Yap (TV host) and Alvin Tay (top fashion designer)
Note John Autelitano the GM of Sunway Resort pointing at me in disbelief
Liar, liar Kee's pants on fire
Datin Sharmini, David Kort, Karmen Khor, Alvin Tay, Gary Yap and Kee Hua Chee and his reflector pants
Judges posing by poster wall
VIPs in the Holding Room; left, Datin Annahita Bakasoli, His Highness YAM Tengku Panglima DiRaja Selangor Tengku Sulaiman Shah Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Datuk Danny Ooi of D'Touch and YB Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah Founder and Chairman of The Sunway Group
John Autelitano, Datin Annahita, YAM Tengku Panglima DiRaja Selangor, Datuk Danny Ooi, Miss Tourism International 2011/12 Gabriella Robinson and YB Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah of Sunway Group
Datuk DJ Dave greeting old friend HH Tengku Sulaiman Shah as Datin Annahita looked on
Dato Saiful Bahar Dato Haji Mohd Arshad (principal private secretary to Minister of Agriculture adn Agro-Based Industry), Datuk DJ Dave, Datin Annahita Dato Saiful Bahar and HH Tengku Sulaiman Shah, brother of the Sultan of Selangor
Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah and outgoing Miss Tourism International 2012 Gabriella Robinson
Billionaire Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah founder of The Sunway Group and Miss Tourism International 2011/12 Gabriella Robinson
Dato Jallaluddin Hassan greeting HH Tengku Sulaiman Shah
HH Tengku Sulaiman Shah of Selangor and Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah
HH Tengku Sulaiman Shah of Selangor, Miss Tourism International 2011/12 Gabriella Robinson and Dato Jallaluddin Hassan
HH Tengku Sulaiman Shah greeting Datuk Seri M Kayveas, president of PPP Malaysia
The deputy Minister of Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture Senator Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz representing the Minister Dato Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim
YAM Tengku Panglima DiRaja Selangor Tengku Sulaiman Shah Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz with Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture Senator Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz
Tete a tete
Datin Annahita and Datuk Seri M Kayveas, president of PPP
Datin Annahita and Datuk Seri Kayveas
Datin Annahita and Kee Hua Chee in reflector fire pants
Datin Annahita and Kee Hua Chee
Dato Danny Ooi, Datuk Seri Kayveas, HH Tengku Sulaiman Shah of Selangor and Senator Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz
The 9 judges at the photo wall
Looking good, the 9 judges
The VIPs entering Sunway Ballroom; Datuk Seri Kayveas, HH Tengku Sulaiman Shah of Selangor and Datuk Danny Ooi, president and owner of Miss Tourism International title
Settling down at the Main Table, the lady next to Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah is Miss Metropolitan 2007
The coveted trophies!
Bet they look good on me!
Miss Tourism International is about Friendship, Culture and Tourism
Past winners
My favourite winner of them all---Gabriella Robinson!
The opening gambit with National Costumes
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