KOTA KINABALU: Teacher Taanusiya Chetty has been crowned Miss World Malaysia 2024.
The 24-year-old from Kuala Lumpur captivated the judges and audience with her stunning beauty, poise, and eloquence.
She will represent Malaysia at the Miss World pageant next year, competing against contestants from around the globe.
Taanusiya also walked away with over RM50,000 in cash and prizes.
Kelly Eleanor Tseu, a Chinese-Filipino from Kota Kinabalu, and Hantze Liow, a Muay Thai and yoga enthusiast from Kuala Lumpur, won first and second runners-up, respectively.
The pageant took place last night at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) in Kota Kinabalu.
This year marked the second consecutive time the Miss World Malaysia national-level pageant was held in Sabah.
"Sabah is a beautiful state with so much potential. With that in mind, Miss World Malaysia will also return to Kota Kinabalu in 2025," said Dr Sean Wong, pageant director and CEO of HyperLive Entertainment Pte. Ltd.
Sabah's Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew praised the decision, saying that events like the Miss World Malaysia pageant were crucial for boosting tourism and attracting visitors to the state.
In her speech, she also expressed hopes for more food festivals to be included in Sabah's tourism promotions.
Before the grand finale, the 11 finalists spent five productive days in Kota Kinabalu, visiting tourism attractions and participating in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and charity events.
These included a beach cleanup at Dinawan Island and a Food Aid Charity Drive at Kampung Kironggu, Inanam.
The prestigious event was attended by KDCA Women chairperson Datuk Joanna Kitingan, Sabah Social Entrepreneurs & Ecodevelopment (Seed) founder Datin Jeannette Tambakau, vice-president Datuk Aminah Ambrose, and others.