Hello everyone!
I know this blogpost is way overdue, things have been so so busy at work and at home last month, but here we are, the Grand Finals for the Mrs Singapore 2023 pageant! I had quite a lot of fun this year and even though I'm still struggling to strike a good balance between work, social media/blogging, and personal matters, I'm glad I found the time to attend the pageant events and as for this post; I'd say it's better late than never.
We had a red carpet and probably one of my favourite photo backdrops this year!
And of course, the wonderful Emcees to kick off the night!
And the ladies take to the stage with their opening number!
Great to see them all again!
Organising chairperson: Laura Lee
Mrs Global Tourism Queen 2019
Grandma Universe 2023
ERM's Managing Director: Angela Tay
Mrs Singapore Globe 2003
Miss Singapore Tourism Queen 1993
Miss Union (NTUC) 1993
Miss Singapore Globe 1991
The pageant would not be possible without the amazing sponsors!
Zell-V
Beauty Hope
Bio Organicare
The Enneagram Academy
Yi Modern Fengshui
Avenue + Co
Omma CHarlcoal BBQ
Cenosis
JHBD
U-Elite Martial Fitness
The Makeover Inc
Shunji Matsuo
Russel Hobbs
Gym Wear Movement
Love Nest
Beauty Insider
Glitz by Beauty Insider
The School of Make Up
Jay Lim Music
Alsco Singapore
Aaron Vignes
RiceField
Song He
Adopted Charity: 365 Cancer Prevention Society
I know some of you have been anticipating the top 3 talent winners to come back on stage to fight for the title: Best in Talent! I was really excited to see what the ladies would bring to the stage this time as well!
Contestant No. 9 Rafidah Osman
Contestant No. C4: Lynn Aw
Contestant No. C5: Yvette Chiang
All three contestants did a similar item to the one they presented during the talent round, so I won't be elaborating too much on it, you can read the blogpost here, watch YouTube video or reel!
The ladies joined us back on stage in their sportswear by Gym Wear Movement!
3 Subsidiary awards were also given away:
Mrs U-Elite M Fitness: Contestant No. C2 Maggie Ng
Mrs Beauty Perfection: Contestant No. C5 Yvette Chiang
Mrs Body Beautiful: Contestant No. 10 Michelle Ding
The contestants joined us back on stage again with their partners in their evening gowns!
This is a personal favourite of mine, I absolutely love seeing the contestants in evening gowns. It's just such a beautiful sight! Honestly, I love it when the contestants walk down the red carpet with their partners (usually their husbands, but sometimes their sons or friends accompany them).
More subsidiary awards were given out:
Mrs Elegance: Contestant No. 3 Saraswathy Shameeni
Mrs Eloquence: Contestant No. 8 Nethi Sailaja
Mrs Personality: Contestant No. 11 Callysta Chen
Mrs Inspiration: Contestant No. C7 Sally Koh
Mother of the Year: Contestant No. 9 Rafidah Osman
Most Confidence Queen: Contestant No. 6 Dhalia Chakravorthy
Mrs Influencer: Contestant No. 1 Pricilla Toh
Queen of Culinary: Contestant No. 7 Kelly Tan
Mrs Photogenic: Contestant No. C3 Lucia Wong
Mrs Zell-V: Contestant No. C1 Sharon Lai
Mrs V-Star: Contestant No. 5 Regina Firman Lim
Mrs Saigon Star: Contestant No. C1 Sharon Lai
Best in Talent: Contestant No. C5 Yvette Chiang
Best Supportive Husband: Contestant No. C6 Annie Chua Goebbels
Best Supportive Family: Contestant No. C5 Yvette Chiang
Mrs Popularity Queen: Contestant No. 7 Kelly Tan
Mrs Congeniality: Contestant No. C5 Yvette Chiang
Goodwill Ambassador: Contestant No. 2 Diana Lai
Charity Queen: Contestant No. 5 Regina Firman Lim
Beauty with A Heart: Contestant No. C6 Annie Chua Goebbels
Community Ambassador: Contestant No. C3 Lucia Wong
They raised a total of $75,576.00 this year! Amazing work!!
I hope you guys have decided on your favourite contestant because we're now moving on to the top 5 of each category and the dreaded Question and Answer segment!
Our top 5 from the Classic Mrs Category!
Contestant No. C1 Sharon Lai
Platform: Food from the Heart
Her question was: What does it mean to be a modern woman? I bet most of you would have an answer in your head and it probably has to do with self-sufficiency and independence. Sharon shared that the modern woman is someone who is able to show the soft and strong side of herself. The modern woman is someone who is able to speak her mind and is someone who puts her family first and knows what she's doing.
Contestant No. C3 Lucia Wong
Platform: Singapore Association of Mental Health
Her question was: Which moment in your life would you pick to change life for others? I honestly wouldn't know how to answer such a question. Lucia shared that she'd pick any moment when she was able to inspire women from all walks of life. I'd suppose that very moment when she was in the top 5 was very much inspirational enough for those who have been thinking of following their dreams!
Contestant No. C4 Lynn Aw
Platform: Singapore Cancer Society
Her question was: What is the most important lesson for us to learn in life? Her answer was short and simple; Patience. I could not resonate with this any more than I did. Patience is such an important aspect of anything we do and practicing patience and waiting for things to pass can really shape the way a person handles anything.
Contestant No. C5 Yvette Chiang
Platform: Daughters of Tomorrow
Her question was: How would you use your title to benefit others? I honestly think this is one of the hardest questions to answer. Brutal, I'd say! But Yvette grabbed the bull by the horns and answered that she'd use her title to motivate other women to be more successful. Pretty great if I do say so myself!
Contestant No. C6 Annie Chua Goebbels
Platform: Cancer Wellness and Prevention
Her question was: Who’s the person would you like to be stranded on an island with? Her answer was probably what most married women would say: her husband. I thought it was cute, I also thought of my husband when she was presented the question. She shared that her husband had great survival skills and is her pillar of emotional support. If that doesn't sound like a great relationship, I don't know what does!
Our Top 5 for the Mrs Categrory!
Contestant No. 7 Kelly Tan
Platform: Singapore Cancer Society
Her question was: If you could discuss a social issue with world leaders, what would it be? She shared that the worldwide problem of poverty and homelessness has taken a turn for the worse due to Covid and it is something she felt very strongly for.
Contestant No. 5 Regina Firman Lim
Platform: Rainbow Center (speech development and dyslexia)
Her question was: What has been the most perfect moment in your life? I suggest you guys have a moment to think about what you'd say before you continue reading - just for the fun of it. Regina shared that the most perfect moment of her life was when she held her newborns for the first time and that she'd do absolutely anything for her children.
Contestant No. 2 Diana Lai
Platform: Silver Ribbon
Her question was: What is the best way to promote women empowerment? Honestly, I think this was another difficult question, as someone who blogs and uses social media often, my own answer would have been outreach through social media. I'd say Diana brought it to another level and shared that education about equal rights was how she chose to promote women empowerment.
Contestant No. 3 Saraswathy Shameeni
Platform: HEB Ashram (halfway house)
Her question was: If you were a judge tonight, which contestant would you like to eliminate at the Q&A round? This was the epitome of tough questions, and I promise Shameeni did not disappoint. She initially did not want to eliminate anyone of her sisters because they were all equally great to her, but later on, cheekily added that she'd eliminate Kelly just because she'd probably be the nicest about it. I loved the honesty here - no malice or anything, just lightheartedness and I thought it was a nice moment.
Contestant No. 4 Komi Jayakumar
Platform: Society for the Aged Sick
Her question was: What are your thoughts on negative perceptions on beauty pageants. Komi shared that she respected that everyone is entitled to their opinions but as beauty pageant winners or contestants, it was important to educate people that they are fully capable women who are so much more than pretty faces.