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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Mummy and Me. :)

NST Online BFAMILY: /BLike mother, like daughter

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

*shimmer sparke SHINE!*

Reach for the Stars (and meet them too!)

www.missuniversemalaysia.com.my

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

Hello Malaysia! :)

Yep! MUMO - Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation - is now an All-Girl-Team, and we're really excited to have things kick off with a bang! Thanks to Clovetwo for this amazing article!

http://clovetwo.com/interactive/blog/default.asp?cat=6

I know..I know..

All in a day's work on a Sunday Afternoon...

Sorry lah I know its been a while. *blush* If it means anything, this is what I've had to do in the past two months:

After Fashion week ---> A month in Singapore for the play I did with Tan Kheng Hua (amazing experience!), The Composer then ---> to KL to spend Christmas with the family then ---> to Perth to spend New Years with the husband-to-be then ---> in KL now planning something that will be announced at the Press Conference on the 27th of January!!

So yes, I've not even had time to firm my hotel for the Wedding --->31st July!! --->haven't even seen the design of my gown yet ---> JOVIAN MANDAGIE you busy boy, quickly finish your work and call me soon! ;)

So once again, apologies. Here's a nice update on what's going on:

1. My sister (Natasha) is coming to KL on Sat night with her husband, Christophe. Fun times except I'm going to be so busy putting the entire PC together with my team-mates: Mae Leong, Eugenie Chan and Jojo Lee. This PC is to announce that basically the four of us are embarking on a journey together...to make dreams come true. :) Just stay tuned here to find out more lah ok? :D

2. Been having interviews with quite a few members of the media; apparently people really want to know about my life, now that I'm getting married. I'm not complaining, I suppose its because I don't see myself as anyone uber famous so much so people would be interested in my life to the extent that the news would report it.

3. Oooh catch The Breakfast Show on NTV7 on the 28th of Feb to see what I'm talking about (the PC I mean!) :)

4. Paul's in Perth, and I'll be going over to see him over CNY which conveniently falls on Valentines Day! It'll also be his birthday on the 7th of Feb, but he's spending that with his mates on one of their 'Boys' Weekends' where they all sit, drink, and play poker.

5. Being back in KL is great, and I've decided a few things I love about this city that you can't really find anywhere in Singapore or Perth:

i. Valet Parking

ii. Cheap movie tickets

iii. GOOD mamak food

iv. Pasar Malam, and Asam Laksa

v. Rojak (Penang)

vi. Satayyyyyy!

vii. FLYfm

viii. My own car

ix. Cheap petrol

x. Mum and Dad.

:D

Aaand if you'd like to know more often on a day-to-day basis what I get up to: just go to my fb! Andrea Fonseka. ---> banner on the right of this page. xoxox!

How I Rocked F1!

F1 in Singapore - most would say the highlight would be, well, the cars, teams, getting tickets to watch the only night street race......

....yyyeah well all that was great. My best moment?

All the Single Ladies!!!!

PUT YOUR HANDS UP!!!

Caption not needed for this one... ;)

Eugenie and Baba

Jovian and Angela (my wedding planner!)

She was absolutely amazing, regretfully unable to perform in KL but... oh well. Good news is, she'll probably be back in Singapore soon and its just a drive down south!!

I know its not much, but hope you can hear the vocals....!!

Bling!

Its a diamond center, with six petals, each with its own little diamond in it, surrounded by beautiful sapphires!

If you're wondering why its not the 'conventional' diamond solitaire engagement ring - well - its because that ring was given to him by his mother. Its his great-great-grandmother's engagement ring!! At 101 years old, you can't get rings in the same (hand)cut stones anymore! And each petal actually has decorative engravings on it! Its pretty damn heavy on my finger, not because the ring itself is pretty solid, but due to the gravity of the situation should I lose it!! *gulp*

But its still really sweet, and such an honour to have the family heirloom. I'm a pretty lucky girl. ;)

As for the hotel ballroom shopping, I have to say... I've been to a few now, and whilst I have never noticed it before.. is it me or do hotels have the WORST carpeting in their ballrooms?!? Who said it was a good idea to have gold + blue + red/maroon?? TOGETHER??

Carpeting aside, I am pretty happy with the progress so far. I have narrowed it down to two, with the option of viewing more in the coming month, cause... Paul's coming to visit!! :D He'll be with me for two weeks (*joy!*) and we're going to be doing some sightseeing around KL and Ipoh. All this while he's not been in KL for more than a weekend, so its really nice to have him for 14 days.. albeit me having to work at the Malaysian International Fashion Week Galas everynight from the 4th to the 8th Nov! But not to worry, the event is sponsored by Chivas! Paul loves Chivas! I reckon he'll be having more fun at the parties than me. ;)

I am so excited, things with MIFA and MIFW are really moving along at breakneck speed! Its going to be SUCH a blast! Make sure you come down to the Pavillion KL for the fashion week - don't miss out!

Oh! AaaAnd I am so happy I've got the most amazing wedding planners ever!!! :D

Next post: My wedding planners! (Putting your pictures up here, Angela and Team - so, no pressure! hehe! ;) )

Here's some news.. :)

~

I said, "Yes!"

~

I have officially begun hotel ballroom-shopping, florist hunting and gown designing. The date? Yes, its been set sometime mid next year - and with my planning a TV show, that doesn't give me much time!! Till then, I reckon this blog will be filled with not just my role as the Face of Malaysia Fashion Week this year, but my entire wedding planning experience! *grin* Please let me know what you'd like me to focus on (in terms of the wedding preperations, etc.)

Stay tuned!

With that; I shall leave you with one of my favourite songs. ;~) Yes, my dear friends. I am officially a soppy soooky la-la. Here's to every soul in this world - that you may find that Somebody.

Coming up next post: The Ring!