The twelve finalists pose at the Riverside Majestic Hotel.
KUCHING: Twelve beauties were selected to vie for the Miss Cultural Harvest Festival 2019 during the final round selection held at The Club, Riverside Majestic Hotel on Saturday.
The contestants were judged based on their physical appearance, personality and talent.
The grand final will take place on April 26 this year at the Sarawak Cultural Village in conjunction with Sarawak Harvest and Folklore Festival 2019.
According to a press release, this ethnic beauty pageant (previously known as Miss Fair and Lovely World Harvest Festival) was first introduced in 1999 and is open to all single ladies of any background.
“Since it was first introduced, 20 beautiful ladies have been crowned as beauty queens,” added the press release.
Previous winners were Rowena Awa Ngumbang (1999), Shahida (2000), Fairozita Ramli (2001), Sharifah Norzuridah (2002), Farhana Zainal (2003), Marcella Shareen (2004), Easther Agatha Jitom (2005), Raden Ira Faraniza (2006), Hazel Desmond (2007), Pearlycia Brooke (2008), Jenet Bennet (2009) Ummu Khansa Romainoor (2010), Suljirina Lucas (2011) Magrina Awing George (2012), Rosalind Sajah (2013) Stephanie Johari (2014), Jean Seymour Harry (2015), Trisdewi Trisno (2016), Shastaclaire Drickerson (2017) and Melinda Peter Jinap, the reigning beauty queen.
The Main Committee of Sarawak Harvest and Folklore Festival (SHFF) 2019 received more than 150 applications throughout the state and after screen view, only 30 participants were pre-selected to attend the finalist selection round this year.
According to the press release, this year will be more competitive as the Main Committee of SHFF 2019 received more talented, academically qualified and confident contestants then the previous years.
“The pageant goes beyond beauty to cultural shows from all over the world. The organiser of this contest has always been looking for a woman of quality and substance as the winners of the pageant,” said the press release.
Thus the winner must have the grace and poise, articulate with a sound knowledge of Sarawak and its tourism related subjects.