Iban girl crowned Miss Grand Malaysia 2025
31 Jul 2025 11:50am
Viviana, fondly known as Vivi, is the first Iban woman to win the Miss Grand Malaysia crown. - Photo credit: Pageantry Moments
KUALA LUMPUR - Viviana Lin Winston, from Kuching, Sarawak, was crowned Miss Grand Malaysia (MGM) 2025 during the grand finale of the beauty pageant held last night at the HGH Convention Centre here.
The 25-year-old captivated the panel of judges with her grace and intellect, earning her the title along with a cash prize, jewellery and various exclusive packages.
With this victory, the Iban lass will go on to represent Malaysia at the Miss Grand International (MGI) pageant, which is expected to be held in Bangkok in October.
The first runner-up was Dr Nisha Thayananthan from Negeri Sembilan, while third place went to Rochil Sagarino from Sabah.
Viviana, fondly known as Vivi, is the first Iban woman to win the Miss Grand Malaysia crown.
"This achievement is not just a personal victory on a beauty pageant stage, but a chance to celebrate diversity and prove that the uniqueness of Iban culture also deserves a place on the global stage.
"I hope this success inspires young people from all backgrounds to believe in themselves and keep striving,' said the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak student.
Viviana added that this win also comes with a great responsibility, especially in representing Malaysia at the MGI stage and continuing the legacy of past Malaysian representatives who ranked among the world's best.
"From now on, I want to focus on working with experienced individuals so I can elevate Malaysia's name even further. Winning (on the global stage) is not impossible with consistent training, proper guidance and teamwork,' she said.
Meanwhile, MGM 2025 national director Melisha Lin said Viviana's win was the result of her hard work and strengths in all five core areas assessed at the international level, namely "beauty, body, brain, behaviour, and business'.
She said the organisation hopes that Viviana will be placed among the Top 20 at this year's Miss Grand International, adding that Malaysia secured sixth place (fifth runner-up) in the previous edition. - BERNAMA
More Like This
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
16 beauties vie to represent M'sia
Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation (Mumo) has unveiled the 16 finalists of Miss Universe Malaysia 2025. This year marked a new chapter for the organisation, as it welcomed Charissa Chong, Miss Grand Malaysia 2022 and runner-up of Miss Universe Malaysia 2020, as the new national director. This year's finalists reflected the evolving face of Malaysian womanhood – a powerful mix of beauty, poise, culture and ambition, all united by their passion to represent Malaysia on the world stage, Mumo said in its media statement. The open call for applications began on May 4, attracting hundreds of applications nationwide. It saw a rise in both diversity and calibre, reflecting the impact of the inclusive eligibility criteria introduced last year, which welcomed women of all backgrounds, including those who are married, divorced, mothers and of any age, Mumo said. Closed-door and online auditions were held in June, with evaluations conducted by a panel of esteemed judges namely Mumo chairman Datin Livonia Ricky Guing, Chong, Evenstar Management founder and director James Tan as well as actress, model and former Miss International Malaysia Rubini Sambanthan. Contestants were assessed on intellect, cultural awareness, communication skills, poise, and confidence, with 26 shortlisted. The 16 finalists, aged 24 to 36, were selected with 50% votes from the judging panel and 50% from public voting. The judges evaluated the contestants beyond their appearances, assessing their potential to grow into global representatives and role models under the Mumo mentorship journey, the organisation said. It added that the finalists featured a remarkable lineup of women, from pageant veterans to first-time contestants with outstanding potential. Among them are a postgraduate from Tsinghua University who has spoken at the United Nations, a medical doctor who served on international medical missions, and a former Mrs Malaysia World titleholder championing financial independence. Other notable finalists are a TEDx speaker who established a foundation supporting refugee children's mental health and education, a dive trip coordinator and model, and a business strategist excelling in male-dominated fields like shooting sports and investment. 'We are blown away by how articulate and passionate the girls are,' Livonia said. 'It was an incredibly tough decision, as all of them brought something unique to the table. 'The 16 finalists we have selected represent a powerful purpose and potential and we are confident that they will continue to grow and thrive throughout their journey with Miss Universe Malaysia.' Mumo said Chong brought a wealth of experience in the pageant world, media and brand ambassadorship. She has held multiple national titles and represented Malaysia in the international stage multiple times, including Miss Grand International 2022 and Miss International 2013. Her extensive background as a beauty queen, model, brand ambassador and content creator gave her a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to thrive both on stage and in the public eye, Mumo added. Chong said it was an honour to return to the stage, not as a contestant but as a mentor and national director. 'My goal is to ignite the potential within every Malaysian woman. 'We are creating a space where each finalist feels empowered to embrace her identity, celebrate our diversity and pursue her dreams without limits,' she said. True beauty, she said, was about confidence, resilience and authenticity. 'This year, I am focused on helping our finalists find their voice, grow their influence and inspire meaningful change on stage and beyond.' The finalists will receive guidance and purposeful information to prepare them ahead of Pageant Week, equipping them to shine both on stage and beyond. During an immersive two-week programme, they will undergo personal and professional development through curated activities, events and mentoring, all designed to empower, inspire and elevate their journey. Beyond competition, it was a platform to build friendship, champion meaningful causes and grow into confident ambassadors for Malaysia, Mumo said. The journey culminates at Gala Night, and the Miss Universe Malaysia 2025 winner will go on to represent the nation at the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand on Nov 21. To follow the finalists' journey, fans can tune in to episodes documenting their training, challenges, and behind-the-scenes moments on the official Miss Universe Malaysia YouTube channel.
Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Borneo Post
Viviana Lin receives emotional welcome in Kuching, vows to honour Iban heritage at Miss Grand International
Viviana (second right) moved to tears upon seeing her supporters welcoming her arrival at KIA. Also seen is Melisha (third right). — Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (Aug 3): Miss Grand Malaysia (MGM) 2025 Viviana Lin Winston was moved to tears upon receiving a heartfelt welcome from supporters at Kuching International Airport (KIA) this afternoon. The 25-year-old beauty queen, who made history as the first Sarawakian and Iban woman to win the national title, said she is determined to proudly showcase her heritage on the global stage at Miss Grand International (MGI) 2025 in Bangkok this October. 'First of all, I'm so happy to be here. As the first Sarawakian and Iban lady to win this title, I will do my very best,' she told reporters during a press conference at the airport. 'This is a dream come true, and I truly want to represent my culture at the international level so that people around the world can see what I have to offer.' When asked to respond to criticism from some netizens regarding the design of her evening gown at the national competition, which was said to be too revealing and unrepresentative of Malaysian culture, Viviana clarified that her outfit was actually inspired by the traditional attire of Iban warriors. 'For the national-level competition, the design I wore was inspired by the Iban warrior. It featured a 'sirat' element, which reflects our culture,' she explained, adding that the final design for her MGI 2025 evening gown will be revealed in due course. 'I'll be working with my team to decide on the next gown. So stay tuned, I'll be revealing it soon,' she added. Viviana also shared that she would be budgeting the RM15,000 prize money to prepare for the international pageant over the next two months, and aims to use her platform to champion MGI's core advocacy theme, 'Stop the War and Violence.' On the recent controversy involving another contestant who announced her withdrawal from the Malaysian pageant scene over claims of bias in Viviana's win, MGM National Director Melisha Lin said the individual's actions did not reflect the organisation's values. 'She does not represent what we stand for, nor the work we've done to prepare for the international stage. I have already spoken to our licensor, and we are currently exploring legal options,' she said. Melisha, who is also a former MGM titleholder herself, called on the public to continue supporting Viviana as she gears up for the international competition. Also present to show his support at the press conference was Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Datuk Snowdan Lawan. beauty pageant Iban lead Miss Grand Malaysia Viviana Lin Winston
Hype Malaysia
4 days ago
- Hype Malaysia
Miss Universe Malaysia 2025 Announces Their Top 16 Candidates
On 31st July 2025, the Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation (MUMO) introduced the Top 16 finalists of Miss Universe Malaysia 2025 during a press conference at Holiday Inn Bangsar. The occasion also marked a significant shift for the organisation as it welcomed Charissa Chong—Miss Grand Malaysia 2022 and Miss Universe Malaysia 2020 runner-up—as the new National Director. The application period began on 4th May 2025 and drew hundreds of entries from across the nation. This edition saw a notable increase in both diversity and quality, a reflection of the inclusive eligibility guidelines introduced the previous year, which opened participation to women of all backgrounds — including those who are married, divorced, mothers, and of any age. This year's Top 16 finalists embody the changing identity of Malaysian womanhood — a dynamic blend of beauty, grace, heritage, and drive, all sharing a common goal of representing Malaysia internationally. Private and virtual auditions were conducted in June with a distinguished panel of judges comprising Datin Seri Livonia Ricky Guing, MUMO Chairperson; Charissa Chong, MUMO National Director; James Tan, Founder and Director of Evenstar Management; and Rubini Sambanthan, actress, model, and former Miss International Malaysia. Here are your Top 16 finalists: Bhadrani Nagendran, 27 years old Chloe Chin, 24 years old Chloe Lim, 27 years old Elaine Cheah, 26 years old Elina Cheah, 24 years old Jen Li, 28 years old Joey Leng, 25 years old Kavita Sanglish, 26 years old Keerthanaah Parthipan, 25 years old Malveen Kaur, 31 years old Priscilla Yap, 25 years old Priyaa Simmi, 30 years old Priyanka Sockanathan, 24 years old Ranmeet Jassal, 33 years old Tan Su Jie, 25 years old Valenice Tiong, 36 years old Contestants were evaluated on intellect, cultural intelligence, communication ability, poise, and self-assurance, leading to 26 being shortlisted for the Top 16 voting round. The final 16 were chosen via a 50:50 voting system, with half the decision from the judging panel and the other half from public votes, ensuring an equitable and representative result. The judges looked beyond physical beauty, identifying those with the potential to evolve into impactful global figures under MUMO's mentorship. This year's Top 16 showcases an impressive spectrum of talent, including experienced pageant contestants and newcomers with exceptional promise. Highlights include a Tsinghua University postgraduate who addressed the United Nations, a medical doctor with international humanitarian experience, and a former Mrs Malaysia World promoting women's financial empowerment. Also among the finalists are a TEDx speaker who founded a non-profit supporting refugee children's mental health and education, a model and dive trip coordinator, and a business strategist excelling in fields like investment and shooting sports. Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article
