Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Pageant Week Pointers


Okay so we al know we've got Pageant Week coming up for the New Miss Universe Malaysia 2010 finalists coming up this weekend. For their reference, and to everyone out there who will be joining a pageant, here's what you need to pack.


Silicone bra

Nipple tape

Thick scotch tape (masking tape) – tan coloured if you’re fair, black if you’re darker.

Hollywood tape (double sided tape from stationary shops aint gonna cut it, not sticky enough. Get the Hollywood tape – you can get it from but buy it from Parkson, with the silicone bra, above.

Heels – two types: The ones you can walk in, and the ones that just look good. You will have different occasions to wear them no worries.

Sneakers, sports bras, tights and flipflops – you will / should be going to the gym.

Body lotion, preferably with glitter in it. Otherwise just have some body shine on hand.

Face masks – deep cleansing ones to suck the muck out of your face after 18 hours of make-up. Hydrating and Moiturising ones to deal with harsh air con.

False eye lashes that you already know suit you.

Hair dryer – the ones in hotels cant dry a bald cat if it was wet.

Straightener and curlers as well – we’re not going to have hair stylists for you all the time

Make up remover – lots of it. Best buys: Johnson’s baby oil to remove eye makeup for budget, Clinique eye-makeup remover (oil and water in one bottle) otherwise.

Accessories – you need to look dolled up even walking around the hotel.

A handbag big enough to fit two pairs of shoes in. You will have alot of things to carry around, plastic bags are so-not-glam at all.

Tip – go buy some light, self tanning lotion, even if you are quite tanned. It will give you a sunkissed golden-ish glow, which will help you look more toned and healthy. Warning - do not go overboard or you will look like a carrot.

Borderline carrot - but still 'pass'. ;)






KL Auditions - the New Miss Universe Malaysia



Aw Hans. :)



Tagged: Hans Isaac, Jules FlyFM, Phat Fabes, Julia Dolmatova and me! ;)

Monday, April 12, 2010

Part 3 of Webisode 2!



My hair was a little off, as were the Penangite young women!! ;p

Friday, April 9, 2010

Why I hate saying NO.

I do try to be nice, you know!

I got this message on FB only just.. I thought I'd share it on my blog. Please note however, that not all girls that the MUM prelim judging panel said no because of this. It would be useful, however, to note the points that I have outlined below...

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hi andrea,
im xxxxx from xxxxxxx..
could i know wat should i improve for my perfomance?
I could wish to join it next year..
i got no chance to ask u n u just told me tat u r not in to the final...
hope u remember me..
pls give me some advice...

thank u...

My Response:

Hi XXXXX,

I admire your dedication in coming to KL.

First of all - the impression I got from you was that you had no further ambitions *after* Miss Universe Malaysia. What do you want to do with your life? Are you able to honestly answer that question?

Secondly, you did not impress the judges with your intelligence, wit and charisma. Maybe you were just having a bad day? If so, I am sorry. Being Miss Universe Malaysia is more than having a beautiful face. I hope you do know that by now.

Lastly, it was unfortunate for you but the depth of talent we had this year was amazing. All the women in the top18 have an Xfactor about them - something which makes them special. There were also many girls who possessed that Xfactor whom did not make it to the finals. Take comfort that you were not the only one we had to say no to.

I hope that helps answer your question?

Take care and good luck in your future endeavours.

A.
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A note to future Miss Universe Malaysia Finalists (and everyone else, really).

If you're writing a serious email, to someone you do not know personally, using the correct Punctuation (Capital letters, full stops!), is very important. Really, REALLY important.

Sigh.. Now I feel really bad. Hope she's not too upset, and that she doesn't take what I said the wrong way.

Oh by the by, things have been going AMAZINGLY well. We've completed the top18 photoshoot, I have JUST looked through THOUSANDS of photos (I kid you not) to pick the best of the best pictures! I am very excited, and happy with the results. Go Team MUMO on our first Photoshoot! ;)

Oh. And while I'm at it - I really need to start planning my wedding proper soon....

eeps!

;)

Monday, April 5, 2010

The Making of The NEW Miss Universe Malaysia 2010

Webisode 1: Humble Beginnings



Webisode 2.1: Open Castings PJ: Where's The Coffee?

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Miss Universe Malaysia 2010: Advice Column 01

Hey there!

So you guys should know by now, I'm the new National Director of MUMO (Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation). We're had our Open Castings yesterday, with a closed-door selection of the Top 18 finalists. We're only announcing the Top 18 finalists on the 14th of April, so Malaysia, be patient! ;)

In the mentime, I've recieved my first email from one of the girls. Her issues are addressed below: Hope the rest of the finalists (and even everyone else who reads my blog), enjoys the read. Please note, however, that this is not advice for a diet: It is simply tricks on how one can get into better shape in 7 days. Please do not follow this diet for 7 MONTHS!! Also always remember to consult your doctor should you have any health issues. If you have low blood pressure, please be careful as following a low-sodium diet may affect you negatively.

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Hi XXXX,

Thanks for the email. It’s good to know you’re taking this seriously. Before I go into your questions, you need to realise one thing: You have a one in 18 chance of becoming Miss Universe Malaysia. Which means that whilst you may win, there is a chance that you may not as well. Do not put yourself through a massive preparation effort for the pageant. *Do it for yourself*, prove to yourself that you can do anything once you put your mind to it.

Ok? :)

Now. Getting down to business. Breaking it up into several segments here, based on what you will be needing to do.

Your first photoshoot will be on the 5th and 6th of April. You have one week to that. Lets focus on that first, shall we?

DIET:
1. Cut out salt from your diet, NOW. Salt makes you retain water, a lot of your weight may in fact be water retention. So by doing so you will lower the sodium level in your body = less water retention. If you have to eat out, no salty sauces (no soy sauce AT ALL).
2. Cut down on carbs. Fruit, bread, Pasta, rice, would all constitute carbs. You may have any of that before noon, but not after.
3. Have lots of leafy vegetables, but not one day before your photoshoot. Fibre is great and all, but it may bloat you one day before a shoot. Instead, opt for high protein, less fibrous foods such as potato (in the morning), Chicken fillet, fish.
4. I would suggest the following meal plan: (Don’t forget your multivitamins)
a. Cabbage Soup Diet for the next three days: Use low-salt stock cubes, Cabbage (50%) potatoes (10%), carrots(10%), celery(10%), onions(10%) and tomatoes (10%) + 1 chicken carcass (bones only. If you buy the entire chicken it’ll be too oily with the skin and the meat). Boil for hours and hours and hours (it’ll taste better the longer its boiled). Drink as much as you want for three days, with fruit only in the first half of the morning. Continue topping up with vege. Do not eat more than one potato and one carrot a day, but have as much cabbage, celery, onions as you want. If you’d like to snack, have asparagus, steamed lightly.
b. The following four days: You may still have Cabbage soup if you like, but increase your protein. Have egg whites, chicken, fish. Remember: NO OIL, NO SALT. Cut down on Cabbage a day / two days before the shoot, but still drink the soup (but not the vege – too much fibre, remember?).
5. Tip: Every Morning: Have ONE large sweet orange. Wait an hour, only then, have breakfast. The Orange will wake up your digestive system, pushing things ‘through’ naturally and efficiently.

Workout:

1. Start your workout with a 10 minute cardio warm up.
2. Go to weights for 40 mins: Do low weights, high rep. Ie: The lightest weights, 25 tricep curls, 4 reps. Focus on your triceps, obliques, abs, back, shoulders. For your legs and bum: not necessary: you have very tones legs: I remember. ;)
3. Follow with 20 mins fast walk / jog on a cardio machine.
4. Bikram Hot Yoga: if you can, go for a class everyday. Go to true fitness, and ask for a trial session pack and don’t pay anything for it. Say you just wanna try it out. ;) they have Bikram Hot Yoga at Pavilion and Subang. Normal hot yoga is great too, but BHY is much much better.
5. Sit in a sauna for 40 mins a day two days before the shoot (read: Not steam room). It’ll help you sweat, hence lowering the sodium content in your body.
6. Make sure you drink LOTS OF WATER. 2 litres a day at least, 1 litre when you’re working out.

Skin:

Moisturise your body well everyday after a shower. It’ll help with skin elasticity and the mini massage will help your blood circulation. Emphasize on massaging your waist, upperarms, thighs, a little harder. It’ll hurt a little but just help “wake up” your fat cells in the area. Face: cleanse well, use a moisturising mask a day beforehand.

Golden Rules to Remember:
1. No snacking after 7pm.
2. No salt
3. Orange in the mornings
4. Do not starve yourself: that will make you lose muscle, which will make u flabby. Some girls at the castings I would rate as thinner than you, but you had a better body because of proportion and tone. Even if you work out, and you don’t eat, it’ll be worse off than if you eat the above mealplan and do not work out. I hope you know where I’m coming from.
4. Always take your multivitamins (after breakfast, an hour after your morning orange.) :)

I will update you with a different plan after the shoot. For now, this will suffice; as this is a one week plan to look aesthetically better in pictures (different than looking better in person.)

Hope this helps!

Xxx
A.
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Friday, March 12, 2010

Getting Ready to be Judged

Okay so the Open Castings for the New Miss Universe Malaysia is on this Saturday at the One World Hotel in Bandar Utama, next week at the Cititel Penang, Georgetown, and then finally at the Royale Chulan in Kuala Lumpur. This is just a little something for the girls, just so you know what the judges will be looking for.

vs.



















Which pic do you prefer? ;)


1. Natural Beauty.
Too much make-up may look okay in photos, but not when you’re standing 4 feet away from us. Less is more, but make sure you play up your best features: Your eyes, cheekbones, lips…BUT NOT ALL AT THE SAME TIME! Oh, and Please. We’re Asians. With Black Eyes. They will never be blue, and they will never look good blue.

If you *must* wear contact lenses, make sure they’re colour blends, so you do not end up looking like an Avatar character.


2. Style


Kurara Chibana of Japan caught everyone’s attention with her quirky sense of style. You can do the same, but remember there’s a line between stylish and OTT. Show us your personality in your clothes. If you really don’t know what to wear, skinny jeans and a white tank top – you can’t go wrong with that!



3. SHOES


Two words:
High. Heels!


4. Think about what you can say to be original.


Just like the contestants in American Idol, you will stand out when you say something out of the norm “I have always wanted to be Miss Malaysia since I was a little girl because I want World Peace” speech. Eg:


What makes you special?

Essentially everyone’s special, right? There are so many definitions of special! I’d like to say that I never shy away from a challenge, and I have a very competitive streak in me. That’s both a good an a bad thing, I feel, as sometimes I tend to become a little *too* competitive. Its only because I never settle for second best, and always strive for perfection in everything I do.

You see? Its admitting that you’re human (humbling) and yet showing that that ‘competitive’ streak in you is also a good thing! It makes you human. It makes you REAL.



5. Know your stuff.


If your passion is saving animals and you don’t know that Tigers live in Jungles and Lions in Africa, then you really need to find a different cause to champion. Period.



6. Be Polite.


We know you’re nervous, we know you’re trying to impress us. But DO NOT BE OBNOXIOUS OR RUDE cause that’s the fastest way to get the shoe out. Politeness never fails to win us over, so always come in, say hi, thank us for our time, and then thank us again as you leave.


7. Walk the Walk.


Practice infront of a full length mirror as you walk. Here are a few tips:
Keep both arms on your sides, shrug shoulders to relax. Imagine a string pulling the top of your head upwards, lower shoulders a little, and square up your chest to lengthen neck. Accentuate hips by arching them to create more of a curve in the small of your back (basically stick your bum out a little). Now allow your feet to lead the rest of your body forward, one after the other in a straight line. It does feel a little awkward, but you’re doing fine, trust me. Your head and shoulders kept relaxed, let your arms naturally sway on your sides. When you get to the end of your ‘runway’, make a little mini U turn (no need to catwalk pose at the end), and go back to where you started, take a half pivot, and pose with one hand on your hip as your stop and face the judges. Done! J


Oh. Four words: Practice. In. High. Heels.


8. Last but not least: Take all criticisms constructively.


Whilst being a beauty queen can be learnt, not everyone is cut out to be one. You need to have the basics there in order to take on the skills of a beauty queen. There are many other outlets to show your creativity and talents, and work towards that. J


Good Luck, and I’ll see you this Saturday!

Andrea Fonseka

Thursday, March 11, 2010

*shimmer sparke SHINE!*

Reach for the Stars (and meet them too!)

Monday, March 8, 2010

Are YOU the NEW Miss Universe Malaysia 2010?

Hey guys,

If you're a Hip, Urban, Relevant and Real young lady aged between 18 and 26 years of age, in the Klang Valley vincnity, drop by the One World Hotel, Bandar Utama for the Open Casting for Miss Universe Malaysia 2010!

Panel of judges Hans Isaac, Phat Fabes, Julia Dolmatova and myself will be evaluating hopefuls and shortlisting applicants for this year's pageant.

The winner of Miss Universe Malaysia 2010 pageant will take home RM50,000 and the opportunity of a lifetime!

This year, we're going to make you SHINE. :)

Details:

One World Hotel, Bandar Utama
Saturday, 13th March
10am-4pm

See you there!
www.missuniversemalaysia.com.my