Media Room

The Star | 25 May 2009

Looking for beauty on the Internet

MALAYSIA’S first online reality series, jointly presented by HP and Intel, concluded its second successful season with a bang at the Grand Finale at The Curve, Mutiara Damansara.

Of the 12 aspiring models, 22-year-old Juanita Anushya Francis garnered the most votes to emerge as the grand prize winner.

For her efforts, the accounting student picked up a Chevrolet Aveo, cash, a HP notebook and beauty products. She will also be featured in the July issue of InTrend magazine and will be awarded an exclusive portfolio by Andrews Models.

”This contest has been a great experience and I would like to thank the organisers and sponsors. I would also like to thank my family, friends and all who have extended their support to me,” Juanita said.

Make-up artist Pinky Liew Mee Han, 20, and 23-year-old Economics graduate Dawn Lim Yeen Sze were placed as the first and second runners-up, respectively. Top three: (From left) Liew, Lim and Juanita showing off their catwalk talents during the finale.

Juanita Anushya Francis Jacob says she hates some of the comments left on the blogs.

Top three: (From left) Liew, Lim and Juanita showing off their catwalk talents during the finale.

The groundbreaking online reality model search series was aired exclusively on www.malaysiandreamgirl.tv and chronicled the lives and aspirations of 12 aspiring models as they lived together and competed to become the next Malaysian Dreamgirl.

The 12 finalists were chosen from earlier auditions held nationwide in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Ipoh and Johor Baru and they were put through a series of photo shoots, fashion and grooming workshops and other competitive tasks.

The finalists were then eliminated every week based on SMS voting.

A panel of judges that included model/actress Elaine Daly, fashion stylist Lim Jimmy, Andrews Models founder Andrew Tan and Beautilicious Cosmetics CEO Julie Wong were on hand to guide the girls and bring out the best in them.

“All the finalists are already winners in their own way and we believe Malaysia will see more of them in time to come,” Daly said.

The Grand Finale showcased a fashion show by the finalists as well as other performances.

“The competition couldn’t have been a more appropriate channel for HP to communicate our philosophy and to engage our consumers. I would like to congratulate this year’s Malaysian Dreamgirl,” HP Malaysia personal systems group country general manager Danny Lee said.

Intel Malaysia marketing manager Norhizam Kadir was also on hand to offer his congratulations.