Presenting Miss Universe Malaysia 2020!

Kuching-born Francisca Luhong James is Miss Universe Malaysia 2020!

The 25-year-old was crowned on Saturday night (September 5th), after beating 17 other contestants at a closed-door event in Kuala Lumpur, streamed live on the Miss Universe Malaysia website.

Francisca, who graduated with a degree in Mass Communications in 2019, now works as a Public Relations & Marketing Executive, and is also a part-time model.

 

 

 

 

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Salam lemai Malaysia 🇲🇾 #crowningmoments 👑 Would love to take this opportunity to reminisce this moment. Surely is a moment of joy indeed for this great blessings. No words can describe how grateful I am for this opportunity. I remember when I decided to join MUM2020 the only person who knows about this is my mother and I decided to join this pageant with open heart and to trust the Almighty wherever this road may lead. Throughout this journey, I realised how important it is to trust the journey and yourself. That everything happens for a reason and it takes a village to create something great. Special thanks to @elainedaly the ND @missuniversemalaysia for this wonderful opportunity and the MUMO team for the guidance and making sure we’re always on point! Can’t wait to start this new journey with the team, this is not the end, its just the beginning. #womenpower To our forever queen @shweta_sekhon_ thank you for representing 🇲🇾 very well at the universe stage, you’ve set such a high bar and you will forever be the queen that made a huge impact for Malaysia. I’ve seen all of the girls grow and empower each other despite going through the pandemic and still keep each other positive. Im so proud of them and will definitely work on something with them together in the future. Definitely a day, a year to remember. The most unique way to win the crown. To Sarawak Team this is for youuu.. Encang Sarawak Encang!!!! I am proud to say Malaysia, I am your Miss Universe Malaysia 2020, lets do this together! 💪🏼🇲🇾 @missuniversemalaysia Makeup @makeup_miracle @artemisia_mua Hairdo @shawncutlergroup @derren_sc Eg @rizmanruzaini Jewelleries @habibjewelsofficial 👑 #MissUniverseMalaysia #BeautyBeyondYou #Malaysia #ForMalaysia #TanahAirku #Negaraku 🇲🇾🙏🏻

A post shared by Francisca Luhong James (@francisca.luhong) on Sep 6, 2020 at 12:11am PDT

The Kayan-Kenyah-Iban native of Sarawak admitted that she didn’t expect to win, but says she did work hard throughout her journey, as she continues to fight for women empowerment.

“It feels surreal. I didn't expect this, but I worked really hard throughout the journey and I am grateful, blessed for this opportunity and I would like to say thank you for all the love and support that I have received from my parents, friends and followers.”

“My advocacy is on women's empowerment and I believe that this begins with yourself. I realised that when I fell and got back up, a lot of people lost their trust in me during my journey.

“What I learned is that believing in yourself is the most important thing in order to achieve your goals. I've been on this pageant journey for a long time and I actually wanted to give up on pageants, but something told me that I should join Miss Universe Malaysia, therefore I just followed my heart," she said In a statement issued by the Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation (MUMO).

Francisca will represent Malaysia at the Miss Universe competition, which is expected to be held early 2021.

Photo via The Borneo Post Online

In an interview with The Borneo Post Online, she said that if she wins, she would want to meet her idols - which include the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama.

“I want to know what is on their minds, how it feels like to talk to inspiring women. I’ve watched plenty of Oprah Winfrey’s shows. I even shed tears watching the Christmas kindness show.”

“I want to make children smile and cry with joy too. To see them grow to be successful people and make their family smile, to see them going to school and get the education that they deserve.”

“It’s a satisfying feeling that I can never describe. It’s beyond words. Amazing how women can make such wonders,” she concluded.

Meanwhile, placing as first runner-up was Charissa Chong Su Huey, 26, from Selangor, while Serene Chai Yong Bin, 26, from Johor was named second runner-up, and Neha Varma, 22 from Kuala Lumpur was named third runner-up.

All the best, Francisca!

by Kyle Roshen Jacob