A hundred enthusiastic women came for the auditions recently, which involved questions and interviews.

These women were picked out from over a thousand candidates who went for tryouts in cities across the nation, recently.

The atmosphere was a fun one. There were jitters but contestants still chatted among each other.

Some even broke into songs and even nursery rhymes!

Miss Universe Malaysia 2010 Nadine Ann Thomas made an appearance to speak to the hopefuls.

The finalists will be announced within the next few weeks.

These finalists will then live together for a month before the grand finale in November.

A reality show will be filmed at the bungalow.

Images: Fotoworx

Potential participants get one last opportunity to be considered for the reality show that will find the next Miss Universe Malaysia!

PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR, May 05 2011: If you missed the opportunity to sign up during one of the nationwide road show casting calls by the Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 search, then this is your lucky day!

“We have had calls and emails from girls from around the country asking us to let them take part even though they were not able to visit the road show to sign up. To that end, and in the spirit of inclusion, we are offering Malaysian girls one last chance to be considered for the Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 pageant through an online submission form at our website,” said national pageant director, Andrea Fonseka.

So far the pageant has seen approximately 1,000 Malaysian girls signing up to be considered for the most prestigious beauty pageant in the country. The online submissions are the only other opportunity for candidates to participate in this year’s search with auditions for the reality show expected to happen later this month.

Closing dates for the race to find Malaysia’s Hip, Urban, Relevant and Real women to represent the country is Thursday, 12 May 2011.

Malaysia’s Best!

Are you between the ages of 18 and below 27 as of February 1st 2012? Do you have a burning desire to see the world? A vibrant personality and being at least 163 cm tall is required as well.

Well, if you meet those requirements then the MISS UNIVERSE MALAYSIA ORGANISATION wants YOU!

All you have to do is visit www.missuniversemalaysia.com.my, fill in the online form and upload a recent photograph of yourself. It’s just that easy!

Featuring major changes to the way beauty pageants are held in Malaysia, the pageant seeks to identify and groom the next candidate to represent Malaysia at Miss Universe in 2012. The 2012 Miss Universe Malaysia pageant features RM200,000 in prizes and opportunities to the winning candidate and various other subsidiary title holders.

Celebrity, model and television personality Deborah Henry, who recently won the Miss Universe Malaysia 2011 title, will represent Malaysia at Miss Universe 2011 in Sao Paolo, Brazil on September 12, 2011.

The nationwide search and this online submission is the first step towards finding the next Miss Universe Malaysia candidate and ensuring that she continues to work her way towards becoming the FIRST Malaysian Miss Universe in history!

This year also features the FIRST TIME that a reality television show will be used as part of the qualification process here.

Here’s how it works:

• The national search and online submission process will allow aspiring Miss Universe Malaysia’s to nominate themselves by having their pictures taken at the venues. The shortlisted candidates will be invited to meet the judges in Kuala Lumpur with the selected candidates being selected for the next stage
• The shortlisted candidates will then be placed within a sealed and secured SECRET location where they will undergo training, grooming and challenges – all on reality television (which we’ll reveal the details of later!)
• The final 10 from this show will then be judged on Gala Night with the winner being crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2012

Qualifying Requirements for Miss Universe Malaysia
The contestant must be between the ages of 18 and under 27 as of February 01 2012, non-married and non-Muslim. She must not be divorced; must never have been married or had a marriage annulled; and must not have had children. A Malaysian or Malaysian passport holder, she must also have a minimum height of 163 cm.

For the latest information on road show venues, dates, times and other ways to enter the Search for Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 please visit www.missuniversemalaysia.com.my or TWITTER @MissUniverseMY.

For SPONSORSHIP and PARTNERSHIP opportunities please contact Stephen P Francis at stephen@arciscommunications.com for more information.

Calling all beautiful Sabahan, Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 casting call hits Kota Kinabalu this weekend 23rd and 24th of April. Come down to 1Borneo from 11am to 7pm. Get a free makeover from Acut Above & Xpression Master makeup artist using Rimmel London Makeup. And get your pictures taken from our professional photographer from fotoworX. Everything is FREE!!

Plus, there’s a celebrities that will be joining us for the Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 roadtour in Sabah. First up the friendly sabahan Miss Malaysia Tourism Queen International 2009, Miss Cassandra Patrick. Miss Universe Malaysia 2009, Miss Joannabelle Ng. Miss Universe Malaysia 2010, Miss Nadine Ann Thomas. Miss Universe Malaysia 2011, Miss Deborah Henry. Handsome and sexy Malaysian actor, Hans Isaac. Miss Universe Malaysia National Director, Andrea Fonseka and lastly the beautiful, talkative and funny MC, Miss Sarah Yap also Miss Universe Malaysia 2010 finalist will keep you entertained throughout the roadtour

Don’t miss it. See you there!

Miss Universe Malaysia Nation Wide Casting Call Hits The Road – Seeks Hip, Relevant, Urban and Real Women to Represent and Win FIRST Miss Universe Title in Nation’s History

Highlights: New Format; New Reality Show; New Range of Prizes

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 14 2011: Are you between the ages of 18 and 27 as of February 1st 2012? Do you have a burning desire to see the world? A vibrant personality and being at least 163 cm tall is required as well.

Well, if you meet those requirements then the MISS UNIVERSE MALAYSIA ORGANISATION wants YOU!

The world’s premier and Malaysia’s most sought after beauty pageant title in the Universe! The Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation is seeking qualified Malaysian women to compete in the Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 national pageant and a new Reality Television Show.

Featuring major changes to the way beauty pageants are held in Malaysia, the search begins NOW to identify and groom the next candidate to represent Malaysia at Miss Universe in 2012. The first Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 Casting Call will kick off at Sunway Pyramid (Blue Concourse) Ground Floor on Saturday and Sunday (March 19 and 20, 2011) from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. Early birds stand a chance to receive a FREE make-over, courtesy of Xpression Master, Rimmel London and A Cut Above stylists!

“We’re crowning Miss Universe Malaysia a year in advance from now on, to allow for more time to make her SHINE before she competes at Miss Universe,” explained Andrea Fonseka, National Director of the Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation. Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 will be crowned in November this year.

Celebrity, model and television personality Deborah Henry, recently winning the Miss Universe Malaysia 2011 title, will represent Malaysia at Miss Universe 2011 in Sao Paolo, Brazil in September this year.

The nationwide search is the first step towards finding the next Miss Universe Malaysia candidate and ensuring that she continues to work her way towards becoming the FIRST Malaysian Miss Universe in history!

This year also features the FIRST TIME that a reality television show will be used as part of the qualification process.

Here’s how it works:

• The national search will allow aspiring Miss Universe Malaysia’s to nominate themselves through the simple process of having their pictures taken at the venues
• The shortlisted candidates will be invited to meet the judges in Kuala Lumpur with the lucky 50 being selected for the next stage
• The shortlisted candidates will then be placed within a sealed and secured SECRET location where they will undergo training, grooming and challenges – all on reality television (which we’ll reveal the details of later!)
• The final 10 from this show will then be judged on Gala Night with the winner being crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2012

“But that’s not all! More than RM 200,000 in cash and prizes are up for grabs as we’re ensuring that the top 5 contenders receive internships, jobs or other opportunities. This helps them realize their dreams and is another difference of the NEW Miss Universe Malaysia – when you join us, we will make you SHINE!” said Fonseka.

Road Show Locations

The Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 Casting Call pit-stops will visit various cities around Malaysia. The first THREE are now being made public with the rest being kept secret for now.

“We’re evaluating numerous options and we’ll go where the most number of candidates are able to meet us – that way everyone gets a chance to take part,” explained Fonseka.

The confirmed venues and dates are as follows:

• Selangor Sunway Pyramid, Petaling Jaya, 19 – 20 March 2011
• Sarawak Spring Mall, Kuching, 26 – 27 March 2011
• Mahkota Parade, Malacca, 02 – 03 April 2011

Qualifying Requirements for Miss Universe Malaysia

The contestant must be between the ages of 18 and 27 as of February 01 2012, non-married and non-Muslim. She must not be divorced; must never have been married or had a marriage annulled; and must not have had children. A Malaysian or Malaysian passport holder, she must also have a minimum height of 163 cm.

For the latest information on road show venues, dates, times and other ways to enter the Search for Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 please visit www.missuniversemalaysia.com.my or TWITTER @MissUniverseMY.

For SPONSORSHIP and PARTNERSHIP opportunities please contact Stephen P Francis at stephen@arciscommunications.com for more information.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – January 27, 2011:* Regional model and much loved celebrity Deborah Henry became the 49th Miss Universe Malaysia as she was crowned by Miss Universe Malaysia 2010, Nadine Ann Thomas at a celebrity-studded invite only event at the posh Smoke and Fire Variety Club in the Gardens Mall today.

The stylish venue erupted with joy as fans cheered when Henry was revealed Miss Universe Malaysia 2011; making history as only the second woman in Malaysia to achieve the Double: with Miss Universe Malaysia as her second title. The first to do so was Trincy Low back in 1997.

“Deborah Henry personifies all of the values and attributes of a Miss Universe. This includes professionalism, intelligence, dedication to her country, a strong work ethic, talent, grace and beauty. We are proud to have
her as the beginning of a ‘New Breed of Miss Malaysia’ that MUMO aims to discover and groom,” said Andrea Fonseka, National Director of the Miss Universe Malaysia Pageant. Henry will represent Malaysia at the Miss Universe pageant in Sao Paolo, Brazil on the 12th of September 2011.

“It is a great honour and a privilege for me. It’s so much more meaningful as the outpouring of support from members of the public was a key tipping point in my getting this opportunity. I will definitely do my best to live up to their expectations,” said newly crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2011, Deborah Henry at the event.

Henry was born in Dublin, Ireland and grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This lanky model started her career at the tender age of 15 and got a taste of winning competitions at an early age as a gold medal winning athlete. This “Sportswoman of the Year” is also known for her intelligence, holding a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Queensland, Australia.

“Miss Universe Malaysia is the country’s ambassador!” said Fonseka. “We aim to see Malaysians getting behind our winner and cheering her on as she takes our country’s name to a global stage with pride! Deborah is the perfect candidate to get this going as Malaysia loves her not just for her beauty and intelligence – but also her heart,” added Fonseka. Henry runs SKEF, an education centre for Somali refugee children.

“After the wonderful experience that I had at the Miss Universe pageant and the remarkable opportunities that have come my way since then, I am truly excited to know that Deborah Henry is going to continue the work that has been started. It was an honour and a privilege to serve my country, and as I step aside I know that the title of Miss Universe Malaysia is in the best of hands,” said Nadine Ann Thomas.

Thomas will be continuing her career in modelling, television and advertising. She is also exploring a professional career as a deejay, developing her skills with Joe Flizzow and Kartel Records, one of the most
recognizable hip-hop brands and record labels in Asia.

“The Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation provides young women with a vehicle to further their personal and professional goals while instilling a spirit of community services through various key initiatives that are undertaken every year – and I share that vision,” added Henry when asked why she was keen to be a part of the competition this year. “I’m proud and excited to be representing my country again.”

Having successfully introduced it’s “HIP, URBAN, RELEVANT, REAL” revamp in 2010, Fonseka intends to improve the pageant further by introducing a new format that will see Miss Malaysia being crowned a year before her going to Miss Universe. Hence, Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 will be crowned in 2011;
to allow her more time to train for Miss Universe.

“Nadine made a deep impression at Miss Universe last year. The ‘Universe’ is now watching us closely to see who we’re sending next. This year, we are going to SHINE at Miss Universe as Deborah Henry leads our charge into a bright new future for Malaysia at an international level!” said Andrea, as her final words of confidence were greeted by applause from the star-studded crowd at the Smoke and Fire Variety Club.

Along with the title, Henry won a RM 50,000 prize purse, use of office facilities in Mont Kiara worth RM50,000, a dental smile enhancement package from mydentist worth RM25,000, RM20,000 worth of Farah Khan dresses, Suhara Jewellery worth RM15,000, a year’s supply of MaxFactor make-up, and a year’s
worth of hair services from A Cut Above.

For more information on the Miss Universe Malaysia Organization please visit www.missuniversemalaysia.com.my.

Miss Universe Malaysia changes format to ensure that Malaysian Representative is better placed to win in years to come; Sets new five year goal of seeing Malaysia in the Top 5…

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA — December 08, 2010:In January this year Andrea Fonseka, National Director of the Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation (“MUMO”) shared her vision to breathe new life into the Miss Universe Malaysia pageant. Having successfully introduced it’s “HIP, URBAN, RELEVANT, REAL” revamp, Fonseka intends to improve the pageant further by introducing a new format in 2011, enabling Malaysia
to compete on equal grounds with countries such as Mexico and Venezuela — noted heavyweights among leading beauty pageants.

“We are going to crown our Miss Universe Malaysia winners one year in advance.” revealed Andrea.

This equates to more time for grooming and training, the most essential skills of a Miss Universe contender. Latin American nations famous for producing Miss Universe winners typically have between 8 to 12 months to
train and prepare before competing. Malaysia has had to compress this complex process into a period of 3 to 4 months in previous years.

MUMO intends to overcome this disadvantage by crowning both 2011 and 2012 Miss Universe Malaysia winners next year — the first time there have been two Miss Universe Malaysia pageants and winners in the same year!

The Evolution

For this transition, Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 would be identified and selected by September 2011. This in turn means that the Miss Universe Malaysia 2011 candidate will be crowned by February 2011 to compete at
the 2011 Miss Universe Pageant.

“We are embarking on a nomination and voting process starting immediately to select our Miss Universe Malaysia 2011 winner,” explained Fonseka.

This is being done through the pageant’s Facebook page, website and through letters that could be sent to the pageant’s offices. The public nomination and voting results would then be combined with the views of a hand picked panel of world-class judges to help select the country’s next representative to the Miss Universe 2011 pageant.

Big Changes for Miss Universe Malaysia: 2012 onwards

“The search for the 2012 candidate will begin in February of 2011 through a national road show, a reality television program and casting calls that will be held nationwide.” Fonseka said, refusing to elaborate more at this time as “things are still very P&C. We have loads of exciting developments coming and we really do not want to spoil the
surprises we have in store for everyone!”

The Reality Television format in particular is a key part of the changes being done as it lends itself perfectly to the pageant, placing the girls under extreme pressure similar to that at the international Miss Universe pageant.

MUMO plans to air the episodes before the pageant finals, allowing Malaysians to have an insight into what has previously been a closed event until the day of crowning.

“Miss Universe Malaysia is the country’s ambassador!” said Fonseka. “We aim to see Malaysians getting involved in selecting her, watching her train and grow, and finally cheering her on as she takes our country’s name to a global stage with pride!”

“Whilst the format has changed, we are still looking for the same thing — a Malaysian girl who is smart, fresh and down to earth, has leadership skills, and a great sense of humour. With just basic makings of a star — we can make her SHINE.”

For more information on the Miss Universe Malaysia Organization please visit www.missuniversemalaysia.com.my

The winner of Miss Universe Malaysia is none other than Nadine Ann Thomas, a 23 year old event and talent coordinator.

The 1st runner up is Mourhrna Anetha Reddy and 2nd runner up title goes to Vera Hui.

Subsidiary titles:

Advertlets Best Blogger: Chow Xiang Yee
A Cut Above Hair Award: Sarah Yap
Most & Chandon Be Fabulous Award: Gail James
ntv7 Miss Feel Good Award: Sarah Yap
Miss Body Beautiful Marigold Award: Nadine Ann Thomas
Sony’s Photogenic Award: Vera Hui

Congratulations to all the winners and the finalists that made it that far!

Check out coverage of the event from these blogs:

Jason Ong – http://mynjayz.com/2010/05/gala-night-photos-of-miss-universe.html
Rebecca Saw – http://www.rebeccasaw.com/winner-ms-universe-malaysia-2010-nadine-ann-thomas/
Kin – http://exposurebyskin.blogspot.com/2010/05/miss-universe-malaysia-2010-grand.html
Josh Lim – http://josh.my/2010/05/josh-goes-to-the-miss-universe-malaysia-2010-gala-night-part-1of4/