[Nundduedola]

Friday January 21, 2011

Reigning Miss Malaysia Universe to pass on the torch on Jan 27

By OH ING YEEN
ingyeen@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: It has been a roller-coaster year for Miss Malaysia Universe 2010 Nadine Ann Thomas who will step aside for her successor on Jan 27.

The 25-year-old, however, notes that there would not be much nostalgia, “as it is not the end, it is a continuation”.

For Nadine, what’s important now is to help the “next girl”.



Stepping aside: Beauty queen and model Nadine has learnt a lot over the past year since her crowning glory in last year’s pageant.

And her advice to those interested in joining the pageant – don’t be afraid, just go and try it out.

“I understand that it could be a little scary and some are afraid that their parents will not approve. But your parents will always want you to be happy.” She also said girls should not be hindered by the beauty queen stereotype.

“I don’t fit in that category, too. There were two plus-sized girls at the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas but they had the drive and personality – and they made it to the finals,” Nadine said in an interview.

Winning the pageant has certainly opened many doors for her. “It gave me a direct link to the industry. “The industry can be unforgiving but there are people who helped even though they didn’t have to. I’ve been very fortunate,” she said.

Nadine was also happy to note that she achieved many personal goals during her reign. “For example, I can model more seriously. I see the difference in myself when I hear myself speak,” she said.

She also had the chance to do a cameo in upcoming movie Nasi lemak 2.0 and a music video by one of Reshmonu’s artistes. Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation national director Andrea Fonseka also said Nadine would not be stepping down, “just stepping aside”.

“Once you are a Miss Malaysia, you are one for life. Nadine has the X-factor and embodies the pageant’s tagline – hip, urban, relevant and real. In the last eight months, she has grown a lot and became more confident, independent and secure,” she said.

For the outgoing beauty queen, the Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas was one of the highlights during her reign. “It is easy to feel lost and insecure when you are among more than 80 beautiful girls from around the world. There are times where some girls break down.

“The trick is to tell yourself that you have every right to be there,” Nadine said, adding that she had the support of her family, friends and some fans who were there to support her. She also found her calling during her reign – deejay-ing.

Nadine is currently training under the tutelage of DJ Ash, who is under Joe Flizzow and the resident deejay of Rootz, in the hope of becoming Malaysia’s first female hip-hop DJ. “I love music and it’s a passion that I want to pursue,” she said, citing Beyonce and Alicia Keys as artistes who inspired her.

Fonseka, who helped her get in touch with Flizzow, said: “I believe that her choice to venture into music is pure genius.”