{"id":100621,"date":"2020-09-07T08:20:05","date_gmt":"2020-09-07T00:20:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pamper.my\/news\/?p=100621"},"modified":"2020-09-07T08:21:36","modified_gmt":"2020-09-07T00:21:36","slug":"25-year-old-pr-executive-from-sarawak-crowned-miss-universe-malaysia-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pamper.my\/news\/lifestyle\/arts-entertainment\/25-year-old-pr-executive-from-sarawak-crowned-miss-universe-malaysia-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"25-Year-Old PR Executive from Sarawak Crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Francisca Luhong James, 25, from Sarawak was crowned Miss Universe Malaysia 2020 after beating 17 other contestants at a closed-door event in Kuala Lumpur streamed live on the Miss Universe Malaysia website on last Saturday evening.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Kayan-Kenyah-Iban native of Kuching also won the Best In Evening Gown and Miss Auto Bavaria Elegance subsidiary titles. Graduating with a degree in Mass Communications in 2019, Francisca works as a Public Relations & Marketing Executive, and is also a part-time model.<\/p>\n

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Francisca was crowned by Miss Universe Malaysia 2019, Shweta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The newly-crowned Francisca said, \u201cIt feels surreal, I didn\u2019t expect this but I worked really hard throughout this journey and I\u2019m really, really grateful, and feel blessed for this opportunity, and I would like to say thank you so much for all the love and support that I have received from my parents, friends and followers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy advocacy is on women empowerment and I believe that women empowerment begins with yourself. I realised that when I fell and got back up, a lot of people lost their trust me in during my journey. What I learnt is that believing in yourself is the most important thing in order to achieve your goals. I\u2019ve been on this pageant journey for a very long time and I actually wanted to give up on pageants before, but something told me that I should join Miss Universe Malaysia, so I just followed my heart,\u201d she added.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Placed as first runner-up is 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.<\/p>\n

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L-R, 2nd RU Serene Chai, Winner Francisca Luhong, 1st RU Charissa Chong & 3rd RU Neha Verma<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Francisca who received the stunning \u2018Reflection\u2019 crown by HABIB featuring a 10-carat diamond set in white gold worth RM2.38 million from the previous winner, Miss Universe Malaysia 2019 Shweta Sekhon, also took home cash and sponsored prizes with a combined value of RM180,000 as well as a full education scholarship from HELP University. She will represent Malaysia on the international stage at the Miss Universe competition, likely to held in the first quarter of 2021 at a yet-to-be-revealed location.<\/p>\n

The full list of 12 subsidiary title winners are as follows:<\/p>\n