Latest news with #HyelleneDanius
The Star
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Reigning Unduk Ngadau Danius to crown successor from among 51 finalists on May 31
KOTA KINABALU: Reigning queen Hyellene Danius will perform her final duty this Saturday (May 31) as she prepares to hand over the crown to the fairest maiden of all, marking the ceremonial climax of the 65th edition of the National Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan. Danius, who has served as a cultural ambassador over the past year, will crown one of 51 young Sabahan lasses, each representing districts across Malaysia and proudly carrying the spirit of Huminodun into the future. The journey officially began on May 26 with the registration of all finalists at the Hilton Hotel here, signalling the start of the Cultural Competition Week leading up to the grand coronation at the Hongkod Koisaan Hall in Penampang. 'This year's pageant is especially meaningful as it commemorates 65 years of celebrating the beauty, wisdom, and strength of Kadazandusun women,' said co-chairman Datuk Joanna Kitingan. Kinabatangan is the only district unrepresented this year due to the absence of entries at the local level, a rare occurrence in the competition's long-standing history. Throughout the week, finalists will undergo a cultural immersion, such as visiting the Sabah Museum to engage in traditional practices such as Magagung (gong beating), Menutu Parai (rice pounding), bead-making, and preparing native dishes like tuhau, losun, and hinava. The finalists will also take part in the Malaysia International Cocoa Festival, the Culture, Agro-tourism and Nature (CAN) short film awards, and attend forums on heritage and healthcare. Their cultural journey also includes visits to traditional homes at Kampung Budaya Koisaan under the KadazanDusun Cultural Association (KDCA). A major highlight is the Sodop Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan gala night on May 28, where cultural leaders and dignitaries will gather to honour the finalists. While dinner tables are sold out, gallery tickets without dinner are still available to the public. On coronation day, all 51 finalists will take the stage to introduce themselves and perform before the field is narrowed to 15. These selected few will respond to questions in their native languages, supported by interpreters for Lundayeh and Murut speakers. The top seven will proceed to the final round of questioning before the new queen is announced. Kitingan said judging will be carried out by a panel of seven, using a computerised scoring system, and the new Unduk Ngadau queen is expected to be announced at 5pm or 6pm on May 31. The winner of Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2025 will receive RM15,000 in cash, a specially designed crown, a handcrafted beaded sash, a scholarship from North Borneo University College (NBUC), and various sponsored prizes. To mark the milestone 65th anniversary, organisers will also unveil a commemorative stamp and souvenir book highlighting the rich legacy of the Unduk Ngadau pageant. This year's Kaamatan Festival is themed "Kaamatan montok Toinsanan (Kaamatan for All)". The Unduk Ngadau 2025 stands as testament to cultural continuity, honouring heritage while empowering women to become cultural torchbearers in today's world.
Borneo Post
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
National Level Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2025 kicks off with 51 finalists, Kinabatangan opts out
The 51 finalists for the 2025 National UNK pageant, with last year's winner Hyellene Danius (front row, 14th from left). KOTA KINABALU (May 26): The National Level Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2025 (UNK 2025) officially began on Monday with the registration of all 51 finalists from across Malaysia at the Hilton Hotel. UNK 2025 co-chair, Datuk Joanna Kitingan, said this marks the start of the Cultural Pageant Week from May 26 till May 31 and this year's edition holds special significance as it commemorates the 65th anniversary of the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan, a cultural pageant that continues to honour the legend of Huminodun and celebrate the enduring beauty, strength and wisdom of Kadazandusun women. The Kinabatangan district opted out from participating in the UNK 2025 and did not send a representative due to the lack of participation in the district level UNK contest. 'This is the Kinabatangan district's first absense in the National Level Unduk Ngadau pageant in so many years. I heard they celebrated the Kaamatan festival there but did not hold the Unduk Ngadau contest,' said Joanna. 2024 National UNK winner, Hyellene Danius (centre) holds up the sash that will be worn by winner of the 2025 National UNK on May 31, as well as showcases the crown for the upcoming queen. Also in the picture are Joanna (right) and Mary. Out of the 51 finalists, only one will be crowned as the 2025 UNK queen on May 31, and receive the main prizes of RM15,000 in cash prize, a custom-designed crown, a handmade beaded sash, a scholarship from the North Borneu University College (NBUC) and others. The prizes for the first runner-up and second runner-up as well as the top seven winners will be announced later on May 31, she said. Meanwhile, throughout this week, the finalists will embark on a journey of cultural immersion and learning. Highlights include an experiential visit to the Sabah Museum, where they will participate in traditional activities such as Magagung (pounding the gong), Menutu Parai (rice pounding), bead making, and the preparation of traditional dishes like tuhau, losun and hinava. The finalists will also make a special appearance at the Malaysian International Cocoa Festival at the Sabah International Convention Centre, take part in the culture, gro-tourism and nature (CAN) short film awards at Imago Shopping Mall, and attend educational talks on cultural heritage and healthcare. Their itinerary also includes a visit to the traditional houses at Koisaan Cultural Village, KDCA. On May 28, the prestigious Sodop Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan Gala night will bring together dignitaries, community leaders and cultural supporters. While all dinner tables are fully sold, gallery tickets (without dinner) are still available for purchase. The grand coronation will be held on May 31, where one finalist will be crowned Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2025. To commemorate this milestone year, a limited edition 65th anniversary Unduk Ngadau commemorative stamp and souvenir book will be released. Co-chairperson, Dr Mary Gambidau, also shared that among the improvements adopted for this year's UNK finale is getting translators for the finalists answering questions in Lundayeh and Murut. 'We have listened to netizens, and in our effort to improve, there will be a translator for finalists delivering their answers in Lundayeh and in Murut,' said Mary. She added that the translators are not among the juries. 'We have a team to prepare questions from Maktab Perguruan (Teachers College), the Kadazan Dusun Foundation (KLF), and the Dusun language enthusiasts,' she explained. On May 31, all 51 finalists will be showcasing and introducing themselves, after which the number will be narrowed down to 15, who will answer a question in their mother tongue with the assistance of an interpreter. From there, the selection will move to the top 7, where the finalists will undergo another round of question-and-answer session, and thereafter, the top three will be selected. Joanna said that a total of seven judges are employed to carry out the judging, and they have also employed a computerised system for the finals on May 31. 'We hope to conclude everything and present the next reigning queen by 5pm or 6pm on May 31.' Further details will be announced via our official Unduk Ngadau social media platform. Sponsors for the event include Sawit Kinabalu, Jetama, Skintific Malaysia, Imago Shopping Mall, PHI Dental, KOVAC, Trusted Shark, PopOutlink, Beauty Wonderland, Happy Place, Chuck & Dunk, Vaseline, Sazarice, Pepsi, Maxis and many more. The theme for this year's event is 'Kaamatan for all', or 'Kaamatan montok toinsanan'. The UNK 2025 stands as a testament to cultural continuity, heritage preservation and the evolving role of women as ambassadors of tradition in a modern world. Also present during the press conference was 2024 UNK Hyellene Danius.
