KUALA LUMPUR: Former TV host Puan Sri Normala Samsudin makes a return to the small screen, this time as permanent judge in talent search programme Ratu Hijabista.
The 56-year-old who is married to former Padang Besar MP Tan Sri Azmi Khalid said that her return was made possible after receiving the green light from him.
"As soon as I received the offer, I discussed with my husband on what he thought of it. And he gave me his blessing," she said in a news report yesterday.
"He agreed seeing that my role on the show was as a judge, who will sharing my past experience with the constestants," said Normala, who hosted TV3's longest-running magazine show Nona, between 2001 and 2004.
For Normala, the biggest challenge as a jury would definitely be when deciding the scoring for each participant.
On how she she felt being looked up as an icon by those keen at making it in broadcasting, Normala said that she worked really hard during the 16 years in broadcasting.
"It wasn't easy to make it in this career. There are many challenges and one needs a lot of perseverance and to always work at improving oneself.
"Every host has his or her edge over others," she said.
Normala herself is a talent discovered through Nona's own reality show-style competition, Pengacara Jemputan Nona.
She said talent search programmes were still very relevant now as it seek a well-rounded female talent to become an interesting TV host.
Ratu Hijabista which begins airing on Aug 12 on Astro Prima sees 12 participants between the ages 21 and 30. Uyaina Arshad and Fikry Ibrahim are its co-presenters.