fashionably festive
The year-end holiday season calls for all-out, fun dressing with bright colours and pretty accessories. Miss Universe Malaysia 2019, Shweta Sekhon, shows you how to achieve the look.
THE festive season is more than just good food and gifts. It also presents a great opportunity for you to get dressed up in your best. From beautiful dresses to chic separates, go all out and have fun.
Don’t forget the pretty little accessories too. You can’t have enough of gorgeous shoes to show off your best dance moves in, for example. That cute bag you have your eye on? You know it will match well with your party outfit.
Recently, we got Shweta Sekhon, the current Miss Universe Malaysia, to share with us some of her thoughts on the holidays. Photographed in the latest designs from MSGM, Love Moschino and Pinko (available at selected Parkson stores), she looks festive.
Shweta, 22, says that celebrations like Christmas and the New Year are indeed the best times to embrace fashion. To her, it won’t be the same without the whole experience of planning and picking out your ensembles.
“Dressing up plays a huge role in the festivities because it brings out the best side of you. It brings joy and happiness. I just feel that when you have your best look on, you are the complete you,” she enthuses.
From shopping for new clothes to getting her hair and makeup done, Shweta really enjoys the process. She usually has all her different outfits thought out long before the actual day, as well.
She states: “I always plan my look in advance as I dislike going all last minute. And come on , don’t we all love snapping an OOTD (outfit of the day) for the ‘gram’?”
Nonetheless, Shweta is looking forward to spending time with her loved ones this Christmas. She really loves the thought of having her house filled with lots of laughter.
“It means a lot to me because we get to celebrate love and unity with our loved ones. I usually celebrate by having a reunion with family and close friends where lots of food and games await us all,” she points out.
“Things are extra special this year because I am Miss Universe Malaysia and celebrations are definitely double. Celebrating the holiday season with my MUMO (Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation) team is just extra special.”
A love for all things stylish
Shweta is no stranger to fashion, after all. She has had experience modelling before joining the 2019 Miss Universe Malaysia pageant and eventually being crowned the winner.
She looks up to Malaysian television host and model Deborah Henry (who also happens to be Miss Universe Malaysia 2011). She even calls the former beauty queen her “all-time girl crush”.
“I just love the way she carries herself and speaks, plus her self-confidence and body language,” Shweta states, adding, “Some of the other icons that have inspired me as a model are Tyra Banks, Kendall Jenner and Cindy Bishop.”
On her personal style, she says it depends on her mood of the day. She also prefers things that she is comfortable wearing and is a firm believer of the adage “less is more”.
“Yes! I do have a different onand off-duty fashion personas. How different it is? Well, on-duty, my heels are my best friend but off-duty, my sneakers are my saviour,” she adds.
On a more serious note, Shweta says that she would like to see the fashion industry highlight the message of body positivity. She thinks this will really help with women empowerment.
“The idea that one must be of a certain shape and size must change. We are made to believe that models have to be of a certain measurement – and that’s why self-esteem issues are cropping up in young girls,” she says.
“I am an advocate of self-confidence, no matter how you look like. My campaign is ‘Your Body Your
Say’ because discrimination of one’s look affects mental health and self-esteem, especially of models.”
Shweta says that fashion can really help boost a woman’s confidence, if it is applied and viewed in the right way. To her, getting dolled up is a great way to feel empowered and brave.
“I see the industry embracing acceptance of all forms of beauty. No matter how big, small, fair or dark skinned, you must believe that you are indeed beautiful,” she states.
Shweta represented Malaysia at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant in Georgia, United States, last Sunday.
● Hair: a cut above
● makeup: chanel
● Location shoot: Parkson elite, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
● On the cover: dress, bag and boots by msgm.