On the evening of 10 November 2011, during one of Malaysia’s most exciting live telecast events, a panel of specialist judges chose Kimberley Estrop-Leggett, from Penang, as MISS UNIVERSE MALAYSIA 2012. Broadcast live from Sunway Resort and Hotels Convention Centre in Selangor, this was the first time in history that Malaysian’s of all walks of life not only watched – but helped DECIDE who would win the coveted title.

The first such win following the revamp of the Miss Universe Malaysia title here saw 18-year old Leggett – a Penangite of mixed heritage who was also the youngest finalist this year – beating over 1,000 candidates from around the country.

To serve her country through representing us at Miss Universe next year, she is also deferring her departure to the University of California (UCLA) where she had planned to enroll later this year.

“Kimberley is everything we could have hoped for from this year’s efforts. She is articulate, intelligent, accomplished, beautiful and most importantly – the people’s choice! This is the beginning of a multi year program that we hope will result in Malaysian’s of all walks of life coming together to support our girls as they take the country’s name, heritage and pride to the global event every year,” said Andrea Fonseka, National Director, Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation.

The selection process began early this year and is part of the pageant’s ambitious long-term revamp. This will see Malaysian representatives being appointed almost a year in advance of the global pageant to help Malaysians engage and better know their representative even as the organization trains her for greater competitive presence at the global event.

Leggett’s reign – which will last until the end of 2012 – is beginning in style. Having made several public appearances at some of the more exclusive events in town over the last week; Leggett will now be involved in the Malaysian International Fashion Week, organized by the Malaysia International Fashion Alliance (MIFA) from the 21^st-27^th of November in Kuala Lumpur.

Leggett was part of BeautyCamp: The Search for Miss Universe Malaysia 2012. This was a 6-part reality television show that allowed Malaysian’s to vote on which candidate they thought would best represent the country. It was broadcast on ASTRO’s HITZ.TV (Channel 705) with rave reviews and a second season is already being considered.

Amongst the many prizes Kimberley took home was a tiara by Suhara Jewel Art, a one-year endorsement with Nestle Fitnesse Cereal, a year of hair services and skincare treatments from A Cut Above and IPL Skincare Clinic respectively, clothing from Bimba & Lola, and bikinis from bikini sponsor Kyla Ruiz. She will also be receiving a one-year allowance from the Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation.

Kimberley Leggett, Miss Universe Malaysia 2012, is now on a media tour and is available for interviews and other opportunities with Malaysian and regional media.

For more information please contact Stephen P Francis or Michele Malini Mahendra at stephen@arciscommunications.com or michele@arciscommunications.com.

You can also follow Kimberley via Twitter (@KimmyLeggs and @MissUniverseMY).

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ABOUT MISS UNIVERSE MALAYSIA ORGANISATION (“MUMO”)

Miss Universe Malaysia is part of the international Miss Universe franchise. Owned and managed by the esteemed Trump Organisation in joint venture with NBC Universal. Of the many pageants and beauty contests in Malaysia, none are as prestigious as this title. The winners stand amongst the most beautiful and accomplished women from around the world. Miss Universe Malaysia is also the longest running pageant in Malaysia. Past Miss Universe Malaysia who have done this country proud include: Datin Josephine Fonseka, Deborah Henry, Yasmin Yusoff, Datuk Anna Lim, Elaine Daly and Andrea Fonseka. The woman who wears the Miss Universe Malaysia crown is not just a ‘beauty queen’, but a role model for other young women and an ambassador for Malaysia on the international stage. Andrea Fonseka (the National Director and Miss Universe Malaysia 2004) has as of January 2010, taken this passion project over to groom, train and ultimately take Miss Universe Malaysia to the top line up at the Miss Universe pageant. “We’re going to make you shine”.

Penang Bridge International Marathon 2011 Logo

Kimberley Leggett – Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 – is more than just a pretty face! She’s sporty and athletic as well as was proved when she recently completed the Allianz Penang Bridge International Marathon.

On the 20th of November 2011 she joined a multitude of runners who took part in the annual marathon that started and finished at Queensbay Mall.

It started at 6:00 am and lasted approximately 1.5 hours (one and a half hours).

The following is an excerpt from some of the coverage that her run garnered courtesy of The Star Online

(link: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/11/21/nation/9943945&sec=nation)

Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 Kimberley Ann Estrop-Leggett made heads turn when she took part in the Allianz Penang Bridge International Marathon.

The 18-year-old Penang-born lass, who wore a sash bearing the words “Miss Universe Malaysia 2012” along with a pink vest and black capri running pants, was a striking figure as she ran gracefully with a good-natured smile amid cheers from onlookers.

Leggett, whose father is British and mother is of Dutch heritage, also posed for photographs with fans and signed autographs after she completed the 10km open event yesterday.

Speaking to reporters, she said last year was her first time running in the event.

“I did not really train for this run, only mental preparation.

“It was sort of an occasion to celebrate my homecoming,” said Leggett.

She finished the run in 62 minutes.

She said the onlookers encouraged her to keep on going during the run.

“It was a good Penang crowd,” she added.

A sprinter at her former school, Leggett said she used to represent the International School of Penang (Uplands) in basketball and football.

She had been busy for almost two months as she was contesting in the pageant in Petaling Jaya.

Leggett said it was a dream come true when she won the pageant on Nov 10.

“The other finalists were also deserving,” she added. “I was shocked but happy.”

(end of excerpt from The Star Online)

She’s Hip, Urban, Relevant and very REAL!

Web Capsules from behind the scenes at BeautyCamp 2012

Welcome back!

BeautyCamp: The Search for Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 (“BeautyCamp”) may be over but the journey is far from it! As promised, we have a host of behind the scenes videos AND instructional tips for all you pageant fans and followers of the show!

So check out the video below – it’s the first of many!

Today: Wong Yu Jin, Official Wellness Coach to Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 provides us all his second in a series of quick exercises that anyone can do at home.

BeautyCamp: Web Capsule #2 : Fitness : Dips

BeautyCamp: Web Capsule #1 : Fitness : The Half Push Up

Check back soon for more!

Reality of the Competition Start to Hit Home as First Six Are Nominated for Elimination

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – 11 October 2011: BeautyCamp: The Search for Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 (“BEAUTYCAMP”) premiered EPISODE 2 last Thursday to much anticipation and tremendous reactions from viewers. The end of the episode saw the girls being judged by a panel of all star judges – including celebrity judge Jehan Miskin and celebrity stylist Andrea Wong. The result – 6 girls were nominated for elimation with SMS voting for Malaysian’s to save their favourite girls open for 24 hours!

Featuring physical challenges for the 19 girls at BeautyCamp; photography challenges and the initial shock of entering a totally monitored and controlled environment; Episode 2 of BeautyCamp marked the true beginning of the competition’s final stages.

“While the girls initially saw BeautyCamp as a place that was there for them to leanr and have fun, some of them forgot that it was a true competition. We’re looking for one winner – and we’re starting with 19 amazing young women. The ones who remember that are likely to pull ahead very quickly,” said Andrea Fonseka, National Director at Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation.

This is the first time that any country in South East Asia has used a reality television show as part of the selection process for their Miss Universe candidate and it is definitely the first time any pageant has tried it here.

“This week we are going to eliminate 4 girls and the results of the voting by Malaysians will be revealed on Episode 3 that premiers later this week. If you thought Episode 2 was interesting, just wait till you see what we have in mind for this week!,” she added.

Episode 3 promises viewers an extreme fear challenge, a new twist to photoshoots and much more!

Broadcast on ASTRO Hitz (Ch 705) at 3.30pm and 9.00pm every Thursday, the show is repeated at the following times:
• Friday : 4.30 pm
• Saturday : 11.00 pm
• Sunday : 9.00 pm
• Wednesday : 9.00 pm

Episode 3 will premiere later this week at 3.00 pm on Thursday 13 October 2011 with a repeat at 9.00 pm on the same night.

BeautyCamp – Not Your Everyday Bootcamp

BeautyCamp represents a new format of programming for Malaysian television and one of the few times that reality television programming has been used in conjunction with the Miss Universe pageant anywhere in the world!

The show, with six (6) one-hour episodes, will culminate in a LIVE broadcast of a two hour Gala Night where the new Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 candidate will be revealed and crowned on November 10 2011 at the Sunway Convention Centre. It will be accompanied by web capsule episodes online as well, that will feature behind the scene excerpts and extended views of content that viewers will see during the show.

“We hope Malaysian’s see these special girls for what they are – ambassadors of the country, the people and the brands that make up our wonderful nation,” Francis added.

For more information on the Miss Universe Malaysia Organization please visit www.missuniversemalaysia.com.my. You can also follow us online via Twitter at MissUniverseMY and Facebook at www.facebook.com/MissUniverseMalaysia.

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About Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation (“MUMO”)

Miss Universe Malaysia is part of the international Miss Universe franchise. Owned and managed by the esteemed Trump Organisation in joint venture with NBC Universal. Of the many pageants and beauty contests in Malaysia, none are as prestigious as this title. The winners stand amongst the most beautiful and accomplished women from around the world. Miss Universe Malaysia is also the longest running pageant in Malaysia. Past Miss Universe Malaysia who have done this country proud include: Datin Josephine Fonseka, Yasmin Yusoff, Datuk Anna Lim, Elaine Daly and Andrea Fonseka. The woman who wears the Miss Universe Malaysia crown is not just a ‘beauty queen’ but a role model for other young women and an ambassador for Malaysia on the international stage. Andrea Fonseka (the National Director and Miss Universe Malaysia 2004) has as of January 2010, taken this passion project over to groom, train and ultimately take Miss Universe Malaysia to the top line up at the Miss Universe pageant. “We’re going to make you shine”.

For Media Enquiries

Arcis Communications Malaysia
The Official Communications, Sponsorship Management and Marketing Partner

Michele Malini / Berenice Then
Arcis Communications Malaysia
Email : Michele@arciscommunications.com / berenice@arciscommunications.com
Tel : +6.03.7805.7133

Videos from the Visit

Some pictures from the visit

Link: Original Image Link to Hitz.fm

BeautyCamp: The Search for Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 Trailer (ASTRO)

BeautyCamp: The Search for Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 Trailer (Nestle)

We have a brand, spanking new website courtesy of the good people over at RTWO! One of Malaysia’s youngest (and more creative) web agencies, RTWO (a part of Arcis Communications, our partners who handle our public relations, sponsorship and marketing) worked closely with our team at the Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation (MUMO) to create a website that better served you (our loyal fans!) needs!

More pictures. More News. More Updates. And best of all – Social Media Integration!

Now, when you comment on your favourite picture, it’s linked to Facebook! Your Tweets are now on our front page! How cool, no?

And this is just the beginning as new features continue to roll out. For now, we’re going to be testing the site. So do bear with us if we have hiccups along the way and do let us know if something doesn’t work.

While you are looking around, also be sure to catch BeautyCamp!

In the meantime, do be sure to catch Episode 2 — It’s full of drama as the girls faced their first photo challenge, elimination and training began in earnest.

Body, mind and soul — that’s where their challenges were.

If you’d like to catch Episode 2 you can still catch it this week at the following times:

• Friday at 4.30pm
• Saturday at 11.00pm
• Sunday at 9.00pm
• Wednesday at 9.00 pm

You can also follow us on:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/missuniversemalaysia
• Twitter: @MissUniverseMY

“This is the first time any show of this kind has been run in Malaysia or SEA. One of the few times its been done in the world where a reality show has been used as part of the selection process for a Miss Universe candidate.”

BeautyCamp: The Search for Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 has begun and it is now being broadcast SIX (6) times a week on ASTRO Hitz (Ch 705)!

That’s right – the search for Malaysia’s next Miss Universe hopeful is online, on air and in print – and we’re looking for Malaysian’s of all ages, races, sizes, colours and every other kind of kind there is … to vote for their favourites!

BeautyCamp will see a new episode every THURSDAY at 3.30pm beginning 29 September 2011 until 03 November 2011. 10 November 2011 will see a 2 hour LIVE broadcast of the Gala Night when we reveal the NEW Miss Universe Malaysia 2012.

In case you miss an episode – we know how busy you all are – you can catch the episodes every week as follows:

Premiere of a New Episode every Thursday 3.30pm

Repeats

• Thursday at 9pm
• Friday at 4.30pm
• Saturday at 11.00pm
• Sunday at 9.00pm
• Wednesday at 9.00 pm