KUCHING: Former Mrs Global Asia 2023, Kimi Tomas invites the public to the Miss Stellar World Malaysia Borneo 2024 Finale held at the Grand Riverine Ballroom here on June 30.
Kimi, an Iban from Saratok, shared that the beauty pageant is part of her advocacy to promote Borneo to the world.
“This year is my own project, Miss Stellar World Malaysia Borneo 2024 Finale (and) I picked up this license franchise from the USA. It is a huge responsibility for me, as I will be bringing participants from Sarawak and Sabah to the national level,” she explained.
Miss Stellar World Malaysia Borneo 2024 Finale tickets are currently on sale at RM200 per entry with a seven-course meal.
Kimi shared this with the media at a press conference at Waterfront Hotel on Friday (May 17).
She added that the competition will see 25 grand finalists compete and only the top 5 will be chosen to compete at the national level.
“The winner will then compete in Atlanta, USA, representing Malaysia.”
As part of her advocacy and her aims to promote Borneo internationally, Kimi hopes that the winners will either come from Sarawak or Sabah.
Kimi, who is the director for the Miss Stellar World Malaysia Borneo 2024 Finale, revealed that the competition will see three categories: Miss (18 to 29), Mrs (30 to 44) and Elite (45 and above).
She shared that during her time in pageantry, she promoted Sarawak to fellow beauty pageants through the popular ‘Bekikis Bulu Betis’ Iban song, and her tattoos, as they were interested in them.
“At the time during the competition, I had a roommate, Mrs Global Asia from Japan, she had not heard of Sarawak (however) after the competition, she learned Iban songs and also about Sarawak’s cultures.
“During the competition, (pageants) from India, the Philippines, Thailand and Japan can sing ‘Bekikis Bulu Betis’. I am happy that I promoted Sarawak.”
Kimi, reflecting on those moments, shared that it inspired her to produce her own songs to keep her advocacy alive.
“The ‘Telai Belalai’ song released a week ago, which I did for fun for Gawai, also because this was for us as Sarawakians.”
Kimi said she hopes to inspire more people both locally and internationally to learn Iban songs as well as to know more about Sarawak.
She said in the ‘Telai Belalai’ music video which was released on May 8, it garnered over 7,000 views, and featured the traditional musical instrument, the sape.
