Aini Sophi, Nur Hazwani win Miss and Mrs Malaysia Kebaya 2018 competition

KUALA LUMPUR: Aini Sophi Shamsol Zainal, an 18-year-old from Melaka was crowned Miss Malaysia Kebaya 2018 at the Miss and Mrs Malaysia Kebaya Grand Final here last night.

She also won Popular Kebaya and Photogenic Kebaya awards.

Mrs Malaysia Kebaya award, meanwhile, was bagged by Nur Hazwani Che Rahim, 30 from Kuala Lumpur.

A total of 10 finalists from various backgrounds reached the final stage of the Miss Malaysia Kebaya category, while there were seven finalists for the Mrs Malaysia Kebaya category.

The participants were judged based on several criteria including dress design, speech, walking style and character on stage.

The awards were presented by Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture secretary-general Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah.

Miss Kebaya Malaysia president Jason Hee was also present.

Earlier, Rashidi in his speech said the ministry was expecting 30 million tourist arrivals in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2020, and that ‘baju kebaya’ would be adopted as the main traditional dress for the promotion.

— Bernama photo Miss Malaysia Kebaya, Aini Sophia Shamsol Zailan Melaka (third, right) and Mrs Malaysia Kebaya 2018 Nor Hazwani Che Rahim from Kuala Lumpur (third, left) with the runners-up in a photocall.

Bernama Chief Secretary of Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture, Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah crowns Aini Sophia Shamsol Zailan as Miss Malaysia Kebaya 2018 at Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur building, last night.—