KUALA LUMPUR: Popular versatile singer Aina Abdul, widely seen as the next Queen of Pop, was named Most Popular Artiste at the 36th Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian (ABPBH 36) last night.
"This is a dream come true! Thank you all my friends and fans for your love and support," said the 30-year-old artiste from Seremban who marked her first ABPBH win.
Aina, who is known for her "huge" dresses as much as her powerful and soulful voice is a multiple-award winning singer-songwriter who has shone in the last two seasons of Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL).
Her best known songs include Semalam, Sumpah, Sepi and Terus Hidup, and among the awards she has won include Popular Artiste Collaboration/Duo/Group for Nafas Cinta, a duet with singer-songwriter Khai Bahar in ABPBH 34, Best Vocals for Sepi in AJL 36, and Best Vocals for Terus Hidup in AJL 37.
Besides winning Most Popular Artiste, Aina also won Popular Female Singer.
Fifteen other trophies for the main categories were presented during the event and the winners were identified based on the highest number of online votes by Berita Harian readers over the last two months.
For the first time, a former minister Khairy Jamaluddin who now works with Hot FM took home the Popular Radio Announcer award while veteran music composer S. Atan was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Erysha Emyra won the Popular New Female Artiste while Anna Jobling won the Popular TV Actress and Dolla clinched the Popular Artiste Collaboration/Duo/Group.
Shah Radhy won Popular New Male Artiste while Hun Haqiem took home the Popular TV Actor award.
The Popular Film Actor award went to Aedy Ashraf while Fasha Sandha was the Popular Film Actress and Uyaina Arshad the Popular TV Host.
The Popular Male Singer was Khai Bahar while veteran comedy troupe Senario was the Popular Comedian.
The new Popular Film Supporting Actor, Popular Film Supporting Actress, Popular TV Supporting Actor and Popular TV Supporting Actress winners were Alif Hadi, Raja Ema, Shah Iskandar and Rita Rudaini respectively.
The winners for the Extra categories included Amir Ahnaf and Anna Jobling (Syurga Itu Bukan Mudah) for Popular Drama Duo, Bront Palarae and Nadiya Nisaa (Harum Malam) for Popular Film Duo, Ernie Zakri's Masing-Masing for Popular Boom Song, Aleza Shadan for Popular Antagonist, and Siti Nordiana for Popular Sensational Artiste.
The Most Popular Artiste won a luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) while the Most Popular Male Singer and Most Popular Female Singer each received a 50-gram gold wafer sponsored by Conboo.
The three-hour ceremony with Teguh as its theme featured duet and group performances by Zamani, Spider, Hazama Azmi, Haqiem Rusli, Ernie Zakri, Marsha Milan Londoh, Shiha Zikir, Usop, Ghidd, Tuju, MK, Meerfly, Benzooloo and De Fam among others.
Presenters for the awards which was held at Wisma MBSA in Shah Alam included Anna Jobling, Azhar Sulaiman, Datuk Seri Eizlan Yusof, Datuk Adi Putra, Rita Rudaini, Hannah Delisha, Puteri Sarah Liyana, Adira Suhaimi, Mawar Rashid and Bella Astillah.
Hosted by Didie Alias, Haniff Hamzah and Riena Diana, the 8.30pm event was organised to honour Malaysian artistes and provide the opportunity for fans to choose the most popular amongst them.
The event was live on TV3 and streamed live on Tonton.
ABPBH 36 was graced by Media Prima group chairman Datuk Seri Dr Syed Hussian Aljunid, Media Prima group managing director Mohd Rafiq Mat Razali, Media Prima Television Networks chief executive officer Nini Yusof, New Straits Times Press group managing editor Datuk Ahmad Zaini Kamaruzzaman and ABPBH 36 director Shamshul Azree Samshir.