 | |
| Formation |
|
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Headquarters | Kuala Lumpur |
| Location | |
| Membership | Miss Universe |
Official language | |
Chairlady | Livonia Ricky Guing[1] |
National Director | Charissa Chong |
Current titleholder | Sandra Lim Selangor |
Key people |
|
| Website | mumo |
Miss Universe Malaysia is an annual national beauty pageant and an organization that selects Malaysia's representative to the annual Miss Universe contest. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age or any other reason), a runner-up is sent.
The current Miss Universe Malaysia is Sandra Lim of Selangor. She was crowned on 6 September 2024 and represented her country atMiss Universe 2024 where she finished at top 30 quarter-finalists.[2]
The competition was first held in 1964 when the pageant's title was known as "Miss Malaysia" until 1969[3] and "Miss Malaysia Universe" from 1970 until 2009 also "Miss Malaya" in 1962 and 1963. No national competition were held in 1968, 2011 and 2021.[4][5] The pageant was founded in 1962 by Mr. Jaycee Liu Chang Lan who then became the first national director of the pageant.[6] The first franchisee, who signed the contract with Miss Universe Organization was the Petaling Jaya Rotary Club. The pageant was registered under Beyond Entity Sdn. Bhd. in 2009 and MYEG Services Berhad as the franchise holder until 2022.[7]
Malaya was first invited to compete inMiss Universe 1954 but due to lack of support from the Malayan government, the winner was competed asMiss Singapore instead.[8] In 1964, the first Miss Universe Malaysia pageant was held atStadium Merdeka,Kuala Lumpur and has been organized annually since 1969. More than eight thousands spectators were in the stadium to witnessed the first ever Miss Universe Malaysia contest. The contest was then won by Angela Filmer from Selangor where she had the rights to represent Malaysia inMiss Universe 1964 pageant inMiami,Florida,United States thus making her the second woman from Malaysia to ever competed in Miss Universe stage after Sarah Alhabshee Abdullah in 1962.[9] However, at the time, Malaysia had not yet been formed.[10] Malaysia was also once withdrawn inMiss Universe 1963.
The pageant was first televised in the 1970s. From 2010 to 2017, the pageant was broadcast onDiva and8TV. From 2017 to 2019, the pageant was broadcast on hurr.tv, which also then became the official online channel.[11] The current official media partner for Miss Universe Malaysia isThe Star, an English-language daily newspaper since 2003 until now.[12]
On 11 May 1995, theGovernment of Selangor issued afatwa in prohibiting every Muslim woman in Malaysia from joining and competing in any national pageant that sends the winner to an international pageant such as Miss Universe.[13] The fatwa regarding the banning of Muslim women in participating in beauty pageants was finalized through the government gazette on 8 February 1996.[14] The fatwa has been recently issued in Penang on 11 May 2017.[15]
In 2010, the Miss Malaysia Universe was revamped by then national director, Andrea Fonseka, a former Miss Malaysia Universe 2004 and the pageant changed its name to Miss Universe Malaysia Organization, and moved its headquarters from Kuala Lumpur to Petaling Jaya, Selangor precisely at the MYEG Services Berhad Malaysia building.[16] On 3 November 2012, Andrea stepped down as national director and the position was given to then Miss Malaysia Universe 2003, Elaine Daly.[17] Elaine held the position for a year before it was given to Carey Ng, a former Miss Universe Malaysia 2013. The first pageant production under Carey Ng's auspices was the 2014 competition. On 3 February 2016, she resigned shortly after the Miss Universe Malaysia 2016 competition due to several controversies[18] and again, was replaced by Elaine Daly who has held the position of national director since the resignation of Carey Ng.[19][20][21]
Ever since the pageant's inception in 1964, the country had only placed once, which was in1970 byJosephine Lena Wong.[citation needed] Miss Universe Malaysia 2020, a Sarawakian lass, Francisca Luhong James was ought to end the 50 years of unplacement for Malaysia in Miss Universe yet the fate was not on her side as she was unable to enter the first cut inMiss Universe 2020.[22] As of 2023, Malaysia currently holds the longest streaks of unplaced contestants in Miss Universe beauty pageant for 52 years since their last placement in 1970.
In 2021, the Miss Universe Malaysia Organization decided to withdraw from participating in the70th edition in Eilat, Israel due to travel restrictions associated with theCOVID-19 pandemic in the country.[23] Malaysia's withdrawal marks the second time the country did not compete in the competition since1962.[24]
Due to some controversies that emerged on social media platforms, the winner of Miss Universe Malaysia 2022, Lesley Cheam was called into questioning by beauty pageant fans across the country.[25] The finale was also held privately with no live telecast, which had raised doubts among the pageant fans. Fans petitioned for Ajunee Kaur, the 1st runner-up of Miss Universe Malaysia 2022, to represent Malaysia atMiss Universe.[26] However, the Miss Universe Malaysia organization has yet to post a reply regarding the controversy.[27]
On 8 February 2023, a new Miss Universe Malaysia organization was formed under the same ownership withMiss Universe Indonesia.[28] The license was co-owned by an Indonesian artist,Datin Wira Poppy Capella Swastika, which was also the national director of the pageant under Just CapellaSdn. Bhd. management.[29] The press launch of the pageant was held at The St. Regis Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on 17 February 2023.[30] Present were the Miss Universe and Miss Universe Malaysia team, Miss Universe 2022,R'Bonney Gabriel, second runner-up and top 5 of Miss Universe 2022,Andreína Martínez and Gabriëla Dos Santos, respectively.[31]
However on 12 August 2023, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) decided to cancel the Miss Universe Malaysia 2023 pageant almost immediately after the controversy occurred in Miss Universe Indonesia.[32][33] MUO also terminated their franchise contract with Datin Wira Poppy Capella as the owner and national director for both Miss Universe Malaysia and Indonesia.[34][35]
On 21 June 2024, the new national director for Miss Universe Malaysia organization, Malaysian model and former beauty queen Eleen Yong was announced via Miss Universe Instagram account replacing the previous national director, Datin Wira Poppy Capella.[36][37]
In 1962,Malaya debut in the Miss Universe pageant.[38][39] Since theformation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963, theMalayan candidates began to compete as Miss Malaysia.[40] The modern pageant is attended by participants from various city from thethirteen states and three federal territories (Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are usually represented by more than one participant), for a total of 18 to 20 participants.
Since 1963, each state holds a regional competition to choose their delegate for the Miss Universe Malaysia pageant. The state winners hold the title "Miss (State) Universe" for the year of their reign.[41] The state pageants were discontinued since then. These were the following regional competition that sent their delegate to Miss Universe Malaysia pageant:
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The most successful state is Selangor, which has had the most semi-finalists and runner-ups including ten winners. Other successful states include Kuala Lumpur,Perak,Sarawak,Penang, andSabah. The least successful states arePutrajaya, placing only once in the history of the pageant;Labuan, which has only placed twice; andNegeri Sembilan, which gained its only crown in 2015. The states that has not (yet) win any crown were Labuan andPerlis.
| Year | Date | Venue of Competition | Host State | Entrants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 September | Majestic Ballroom, The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur | Kuala Lumpur | 16 |
| 2024 | 6 September | The Majestic Hotel, Tasik Perdana | 16 | |
| 2023 | 27 August | Private Event | 6 | |
| 2022 | 7 October | M Resort and Hotel, Damansara | Kuala Lumpur | 15 |
| 2020 | 5 September | Kota Damansara,Petaling Jaya | Selangor | 18 |
| 2019 | 7 March | Majestic Araneta Auditorium, The Majestic Hotel | Kuala Lumpur | 18 |
| 2018 | 11 January | 18 | ||
| 2017 | 23 February | 17 | ||
| 2016 | 30 April | Palace of the Golden Horses Hotel,Seri Kembangan | Selangor | 14 |
| 2015 | 17 April | Shangri-La Hotel,Jalan Sultan Ismail | Kuala Lumpur | 17 |
| 2014 | 19 December 2013 | Setia City Convention Centre,Shah Alam | Selangor | 19 |
| 2013 | 10 December 2012 | 17 | ||
| 2012 | 10 November 2011 | Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre, Shah Alam | 19 | |
| 2011 | 11 January | Smoke and Fire Variety Club, Gardens Mall | Kuala Lumpur | 10 |
| 2010 | 16 May | Royale Chulan Hotel, Jalan Conlay | 18 | |
| 2009 | 30 May | 18 | ||
| 2008 | 30 May | St. Giles Gardens Hotel,Mid Valley City | 13 | |
| 2007 | 21 April | The Mines Resort, Seri Kembangan | Selangor | 16 |
| 2006 | 19 April | Royale Chulan Hotel, Jalan Conlay | Kuala Lumpur | 13 |
| 2005 | 30 April | 13 | ||
| 2004 | 16 April | 13 | ||
| 2003 | 11 April | Hotel Istana,Bukit Bintang | 16 | |
| 1990 | 23 April | Genting Highlands,Bentong | Pahang | 15 |
| 1989 | 19 March | Hyatt Saujana Hotel, Shah Alam | Selangor | 16 |
| 1979 | 28 April | Merlin Hotel, Jalan Sultan Ismail | Kuala Lumpur | 21 |
| 1978 | 18 May | Merlin Hotel, Lebuh Penang,George Town | Penang | 17 |
| 1977 | 30 April | Federal Hotel, Bukit Bintang | Kuala Lumpur | 14 |
| 1973 | 10 June | Merlin Hotel, Jalan Sultan Ismail | 13 | |
| 1971 | 12 June | 13 | ||
| 1970 | 29 May | Fortuna Hotel, Bukit Bintang | 13 | |
| 1969 | 23 June | Johor Diamond Jubilee Hall, Grand Mutiara Hotel | Johor | 11 |
| 1967 | 30 June | Asrama Perak,Tambun,Ipoh | Perak | 10 |
| 1965 | 12 June | Stadium Merdeka, City Centre | Kuala Lumpur | 14 |
| 1964 | 13 June | 14 | ||
The oldest woman to win Miss Universe Malaysia isMiss Universe Malaysia 2011,Deborah Henry of Kuala Lumpur, at 26 years old.[42] Maznah Ali, ofJohor, the first runner-up in Miss Malaysia 1967 and the titleholder of Miss Malaysia 1968 was the first to ever compete in two international pageants on the same year: Miss Universe andMiss International.[43] The tallest Miss Universe Malaysia isMiss Universe Malaysia 2004,Andrea Fonseka, of Penang at 6 feet and 0 inch (183 cm).[44]
The firstMalay winner to ever win the title was Nik Azizah Nik Yahya of Kelantan in 1963; the first Eurasian winner was Angela Filmer of Selangor in 1964; the firstHispanic winner was Patricia Augustus of Penang in 1965;[45] the firstChinese winner was Helen Lee of Perak in 1966;[46] the firstSiamese winner was Monkam Siprasome of Kedah in 1967;[47] the firstCaucasian winner was Yvette Batterman of Selangor in 1971; the firstIndian winner was Lucy Narayanasamy of Selangor in 1993;[48] and the firstIndigenous winner was Francisca Luhong James of Sarawak in 2020.[49]
The crown of Miss Universe Malaysia has changed numerous times since 1964.
| Year | Candidate | State | Placement & Performance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placements | Special award(s) | |||
| 2025 | Chloe Lim | Kuala Lumpur | Unplaced | |
| 2024 | Sandra Lim[55] | Selangor | Top 30 | |
| 2023 | Serena Lee[56] | Kuala Lumpur | Unplaced | |