Hello Everyone!
What a year it has been! I can't believe that this blogpost will be the last pageant blogpost of the year and next week's lookbook will be the absolute last post of 2019. It's so crazy! I cannot thank ERM Singapore enough for always having me at their various pageants, it's always a joy to see them.
In case you're new to the whole pageant thing, there are two categories for this pageant: the Mrs. catergory, for married women aged between 25 to 44, and the Classic Mrs category, for women ages 45 and above. At the end of the pageant, two titles will be given away:
Mrs Singapore Chinatown 2019
Classic Mrs Singapore Chinatown 2019
These ladies will then represent Singapore in the respective international pageants!
If you haven't watched the vlog yet, you can watch it here.
The night began with a ribbon dance by the Metta Welfare Association
Opening speeches (left to right)
Dorcas Tan - Organising Chairperson for Mrs Singapore Chinatown 2019
Angela Tay - Managing Director of ERM Singapore
Mr Lim Biow Chuan - Member of Parliament | Mountbatten SMC
Outfits by My Fine Collections
The contestants came on stage with their opening number! And as always, they took turns to walk down the stage and introduce themselves one by one before the top 5 from the talent round took the stage again to compete for the title of 'Best in Talent'!
Top 5 Talent
Contestant No. 4: Clanna Chuang
Clanna did a dance number for us, and it involved so many elements! I didn't get to see much of the talent round previously because of work so I'm not sure how much has changed from the original routine! I appreciate the effort to include many props in her item!
Top 5 Talent
Contestant No. 6: Lu Meng Qiu
I loved Meng Qiu's item, it was such a shame that I didn't get to see what she did during the talent round previously. I really do appreciate a solid dance item and you can tell she has spent years dancing. She's a dance teacher as well, so it's no surprise that she looks amazing on stage!
Top 5 Talent
Contestant No. C3: Patricia Wong
Patricia sang for us, and it was a really lively performance! I think it takes a lot of effort and confidence to be able to command the attention of an audience just by singing. I felt that she did an amazing job!
Top 5 Talent
Contestant No. C6: Vivienne Chooi
Vivienne did a zumba item for us, it was full of energy and she had quite a number of her friends join her on stage! I don't think I've seen a contestant bring so many people on stage for a talent item during the finals, so it was a first for me! If you watched the vlog, I hope Banana Cha Cha is stuck in your head too!
Top 5 Talent
Contestant No. C10: Vivienne Loh
Last but not least, Vivienne performed another dance item for us, but concentrated on one prop. I enjoy watching performances with these fans because the way the material flows is just so mesmerising!
After the top 5 contestants for the talent round performed, the ladies came back on stage in Qipaos by My Fine Collections, and some sub awards were given out!
Now it's time for some Subsidiary Awards:
Eloquence Award 2019: Contestant No. C5 Crystal Thomas
Optimist Award 2019: Contestant No.3 April Ng
Most Confidence 2019: Contestant No. 8 Rosalie Diamante Nair
Most Elegant 2019: Contestant No. 4 Clanna Chuang
Personality Queen 2019: Contestant No. 2 Maggie Chow
Inspiration Award 2019: Contestant No. C10 Vivienne Loh
Best Fitness Award 2019: Contestant No. C6 Vivienne Chooi
Popularity Queen 2019: Contestant No. C2 Uginia Tay
Contestant of the Year 2019: Contestant No. C1 Madeline Leong
Congeniality Award 2019: Contestant No. 5 Amy Wu
Most Supportive Family 2019: Contestant No. C3 Patricia Wong
Most Supportive Husband 2019: Contestant No. C6 Vivienne Chooi
This year's sponsors:
Adopted Charity: Metta Welfare Association
Presenting Sponsors: 300K Positive, Oudao Perlane
Theresa Holdings: theresa.com.sg
Mirage Aesthetic: www.mirageaesthetic.com
Ingenious Beauty: ingeniousbeauty.com.sg
Dr. D Aesthetics: drdaesthetics.com
Saigon Star: facebook.com/pg/saigonstarss
De'Infinite: facebook.com/Deinfinite
Isabella Aesthetics: www.isabellaesthetics.com
FABlife: www.fablife.style
Levon Beauty & Wellness: levonbeauty.com
The ORCHID Skin: www.theorchidskin.com.sg
Shunji Matsuo: shunjimatsuo.com.sg
Knife: facebook.com/KnifeDelicious
Arium Collection: www.ariumcollection.com
RicciNo: riccino.com.sg
My Fine Collections: facebook.com/myfinecollections
The Makeover Inc: www.themakeoverinc.com.sg
The School of Make Up: www.theschoolofmakeup.com
Lee Wei Song School of Music: www.leeweisong.com.sg
Hotel Penaga: hotelpenaga.com
Pinang Peranakan Mansion: www.pinangperanakanmansion.com.my
PETACH: petach.gov.my
FTZ Travel: www.ftz.com.my
Oasis Terraces: facebook.com/OasisTerraces
Housing Development Board: www.hdb.gov.sg
Nushi: facebook.com/nushisg
Winn's Cafe: facebook.com/Winns-Cafe
Little Flower Hut: www.littleflowerhut.com.sg
The ladies came out onto the stage once again, dressed in Qipaos by My Fine Collection!
And it's time for more Subsidiary Awards:
Star Chef Award 2019: Contestant No. C9 Jane Wa
Photogenic Award 2019: Contestant No. C3 Patricia Wong
Mrs Mirage Aesthetics 2019: Contestant No. C3 Patricia Wong
Mrs Dazzling Nails 2019: Contestant No. C3 Patricia Wong
Mrs Beautiful Body 2019: Contestant No. C3 Patricia Wong
Best in Talent 2019: Contestant No. 6 Le Meng Qiu
Mrs 3K Positive 2019: Contestant No. 3 April Ng
Mrs Oudao 2019: Contestant No. C2 Uginia Tay
Beauty with a Heart 2019: Contestant No. C8 Jenn Ho
Charity Queen 2019: Contestant No. C9 Jane Wa
Goodwill Ambassador 2019: Contestant No. 9 Daphne Neo
Community Ambassador 2019: Contestant No. C3 Patricia Wong
Presenting all the raised funds from this year's pageant to the Metta Welfare Association!
Well done ladies!
And then there were 11! There were the top 5 contestants from the Mrs Category, and a Top 6 (yes, there was a tie!) for the Classic Mrs Category! With less than a few minutes to spare, the contestants were welcomed back on stage for the Q&A!
Top 5 - Mrs Category
Contestant No. 4: Clanna Chuang
Contestant No. 5: Amy Wu
Contestant No. 3: April Ng
Contestant No. 6: Lu Meng Qiu
Contestant No. 2: Maggie Chow
Top 6 - Classic Mrs Category
Contestant No. C10: Vivienne Loh
Contestant No. C8: Jenn Ho
Contestant No. C1: Madeline Leong
Contestant No. C9: Jane Wa
Contestant No. C6: Vivienne Chooi
Contestant No. C3: Patricia Wong
The following headshots were taken from ERM Singapore's facebook page.
Photography by The Makeover Inc
Jewellery by Arium Collection
Firstly, let's start with the top 5 from the Mrs Category!
Contestant No. 4: Clanna Chuang
Clanna's wishes to encourage more volunteers to reach out to single mothers, in hope of giving them motivation and support to help them achieve independence. She shared that she herself had a few friends who have become single mothers, and it had spurred her on to take on this platform.
Her question was what her take back from Mrs Singapore Chinatown 2019 was. I love asking queens about what they enjoyed most about their pageant journey when I interview them for a piece for Tea With Queens, and Clanna's answer was not very far: meeting her pageant sisters, getting to know them has helped her to build up the platform that she was advocating for.
Contestant No. 5: Amy Wu
Amy's platform was to help children with dyslexia, which included helping their parents to deal with the condition. Amy shared that her own children suffer from dyslexia and in order to help them, she joined parent support groups where parents who have kids with dyslexia exchange advice and experiences. She is also volunteers with the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS), helping them to raise funds and hopes to be able to have talks about dyslexia to raise awareness.
Her question was what her greatest obstacle was, I personally think that this question is quite a toughie because you have to be self critical without degrading yourself. She shared that her greatest obstacle was public speaking, and in order to overcome this fear that she has, she became a guide at the Chinatown Heritage Centre where she holds tours and mingles with tourists and even students. Of course, it wasn't easy for her, but I think it takes a great amount of courage to face your fears head on!
Contestant No. 3: April Ng
April's Platform was to help animals with special needs. Having adopted a paralysed kitten herself, she had a very close bond with it. Although putting it to sleep seemed like the only option back then, she didn't want to just end its life. April hopes to be able to give talks and campaigns in order to raise awareness for these special little critters, how owners can cope with their special paw kids's conditions and that 'paralysis is not a death sentence'.
Her question was about the saying 'Behind every successful man, is a woman', and how she viewed herself regarding this quote. April shared that this woman needs to be encouraging, supportive, adapting and capable. Despite not being the wealthiest, she felt that her husband was still a successful person in life because of his attitude. Being a stay-home mum, she shared that she did everything she could to support her husband who was an entrepreneur.
Contestant No. 6: Lu Meng Qiu
Meng Qiu shared that she believed in giving back to society, so she has volunteered at various organisations as well as brought her kids to old folks homes to perform for them as well.
She was asked to share on life-changing experience in her life, and she shared that there will always be something that will change your life no matter how small. She also mentioned that talent is regardless of age, and that if you work hard everyday, you'll have a bright future despite what life may throw at you!
Contestant No. 2: Maggie Chow
Last but not least, we have Maggie, who's platform was to promote recycling activities in Singapore in order to promote a greener society. She hopes to collaborate with various communities in order to influence the public to recycle more. Maggie even started recycling activities in her condominium and shared that the response was rather encouraging too.
She was asked about how she would respond to people who questioned/criticised her decision to join a beauty pageant. Maggie shared that beauty isn't the sole criteria when it came to judging in a pageant, it takes the contestant's intelligence, overall performance and passion for their platform that affects the judge's decisions.
And now, we move on to the Classic Mrs Category!
Contestant No. C10: Vivienne Loh
Vivienne's platform is Women in Need (WIN), which she started 16 years ago, in order to help women who are going through hardships, especially due to miscarriages or still birth. WIN eventually evolved into a coaching/teaching platform for women who are getting out of a divorce or even expat women who may find it difficult adapting to life in Singapore.
Her question was what made her different from the others, and her answer was simple: she was an all rounder, sharing that she was both artistic and intellectually inclined, as well as emotionally intuitive! I think it takes a lot of self confidence to say something like that on the stage, but I think she did swimmingly. She was definitely someone who was eloquent and I felt she spoke on stage very well. I did get to talk to her a little during the cooking round and she was lovely! Of course, she was one of the top 5 in the talent round as well, so she definitely was walking the talk.
Contestant No. C8: Jenn Ho
Jenn is the founder of Jenn and Volunteer's care group. She hopes to be able garner more volunteers to gather more resources in order to help the needy. Being a cancer survivor, she hopes to also be a form of inspiration to those who need hope and encouragement.
She was asked to share secrets to a successful marriage. She shared that communication is the key to any relationship and apart from that, she feels that wives should respect their husbands by giving them the space they need, as well as putting their needs before our own. I can hear a lot of feminazis screaming right now (lol), but I don't think she's wrong because relationships are about acceptance and balance.
Contestant No. C1: Madeline Leong
Madeline's platform is helping children from underprivileged families. She hopes to work with various organisations to raise funds for these families.
She was asked what qualities of a women gives them an edge over men. She mentioned that it was important that we all have love for everything and for everything that we do. With that love there will always be the willpower to do the impossible.
Contestant No. C9: Jane Wa
Jane's platform was to help children with autism. She shared that she began working with these children, teaching them to sing and dance. Jane also hopes that more people would be able to volunteer with helping these children.
Her question was what was the greatest gift that a women has that they could use to their advantage. She answered that the greatest gift a woman has is not only her beauty, but her intelligence as well.
Contestant No. C6: Vivienne Chooi
Vivienne shared that she has been helping with the elderly in her church since 2008 (that's 11 years!!) and often visits old folks homes as well. She hopes to advocate a healthy lifestyle for the elderly as well.
She was asked to share her biggest challenge as a modern-day married women. Vivienne shared that one of the toughest things she had to overcome was juggling the time she has on her hands, being a mother, a wife, a volunteer and a zumba instructor.
Contestant No. C3: Patricia Wong
Patricia's chosen platform was to support the old folks. She often volunteers with old folks homes to bring the elderly joy and hopes to gather more volunteers to join her with these volunteering activities.
Her question was about the the prime ingredients to success for women in today's world! Patricia shared that in this day and age, it is difficult to balance a woman's career, and her family as well. Being successful would mean finding the perfect balance between these two things.
While the judges added up the scores, the ERM queens put on a lovely performance for us!
And then, the time came to crown the new Mrs Singapore Chinatown and Classic Mrs Singapore Chinatown!
Mrs Singapore Chinatown 2019 2nd Runner Up: Contestant No. 6 Lu Meng Qiu
Mrs Singapore Chinatown 2019 1st Runner Up : Contestant No. 5 Amy Wu
Irene Soh; Mrs Singapore Chinatown 2018
Mrs Singapore Chinatown 2019 Winner: Contestant No. 4 Clanna Chuang
Classic Mrs Singapore Chinatown 1st Runner Up : Contestant No. C8 Jenn Ho
Classic Mrs Singapore Chinatown 2nd Runner Up: Contestant No. C10 Vivienne Loh
Lincy Kwan; Classic Mrs Singapore Chinatown 2018
Classic Mrs Singapore Chinatown 2019 Winner: Contestant No. C3 Patricia Wong
Congratulations to all the new queens! I hope you guys had an amazing journey, and an even more meaningful reign! I hope you guys enjoyed this blogpost, I'll see you guys in my next one!
xx
Shayne