Beauty finds beauty in M’sia
Teen pageant runner-up proud of people’s unity despite differences
KOTA KINABALU: Sabahan Shareene Francis Loudin is a beauty who won second place in the Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen) pageant.
What is even more beautiful to her is her home state of Sabah and Malaysia.
The 19-year-old says she loves how people in this multiracial country live with each other.
“I love how we are able to get to know people of so many different racial and cultural backgrounds.
“Every culture is unique and beautiful. It is a blessing to be living here,” she said when met selling kuih and home-made cookies with her mother, Shirly Siaw, at the weekly tamu (market) in Donggongon, Penampang.
Shareene was among those who received the #AnakAnakMalaysia wristbands at the tamu.
The #AnakAnakMalaysia campaign is organised by Star Media Group in collaboration with Eco World Development Group Bhd to commemorate National Day and Malaysia Day.
The youngest of four siblings, Shareene – who is of Kadazan and Chinese parentage – finds the cultures of both her parents beautiful.
She speaks both Chinese and Kadazandusun fluently with her customers at the tamu.
“I have been helping out for as long as I can remember – during my school days when we operated a school canteen and then baking cakes at home to sell,” she said.
Shareene hopes to open a bakery after she finishes her studies at the Asian Tourism International College here.
Asked what she wishes for Malaysia in the coming years, she said she hopes the country will continue to be peaceful and harmonious.
Traders Jessie Agustine, 38, and Noimi Houri, 46, who were also given wristbands, wanted to see Malaysians live a more comfortable and happier life.
Rosie Gindapol, 55, who sells vegetables and the local delicacy of sago worms known as butod among the locals, wished that the people in the country would forever treasure the prevailing harmony.
After the tamu visit, the #AnakAnakMalaysia crew dropped by the nearby Monsopiad Heritage Village to hand out wristbands to the staff and visitors there.
Malaysians currently overseas can join the #AnakAnak Malaysia campaign and send messages of love by e-mailing their photos and videos until Sept 16.
They can also make a public post via their favourite social media site with the hashtag #AnakAnakMalaysia.
All they have to do is download the official campaign poster from The Star Online Facebook page’s cover photo, print it, pose with it and send the photographs to online@thestar.com.my.
They can also display it on their mobile device. Selfies and wefies are welcome.
All are encouraged to join in the fun as pictures and videos submitted will be shared on The Star Online’s social media accounts and published on its different platforms.