A close-up of the new Miss Universe Malaysia 2o12, flanked by 2011 winner Deborah HenryHonestly, I don't know.
The Final Q&A session gave only a measly 20% weightage in determining the overall winner. Had that percentage been dramatically higher, she would have easily lost the crown. Now don't get me wrong, I don't think she's intellectually-challenged or anything but she needs to improve on her ability to provide a clear, succinct answer when caught in a storm full of fiery darts. Let this be a lesson to all then (I know, like who am I to be showing the ropes right?).
But I guess, it boiled down to the remaining 80%. I admit, she was the most striking-looking (so much so that she reminds me of one of those girls who would do well in the Estee Lauder model search, with reference to her mixed ancestry). For some reason, it seems like she was dressed to win, the Bill Keith gown fitted her remarkably. The bright pink contrasted her pale porcelain skin while her hair, swept to right, brought an old school glamour while revealing the length of her neck.
Leggett taking her first walk as Miss Universe Malaysia 
3rd runner-up, Juanita Ramayah
1st runner-up, Gabriella Robinson
Robinson dominated the voting polls, with a landslide win of 50% (thereabout) of all SMS votes. Styling wise, I have so much to say. On the gala night, the team's styling did not do her beauty justice. Her hair was almost nightmare-ish (I exaggerate). It looked drab and lifeless. What happened to her freshly-cut bangs by A Cut Above weeks before? And her gown? The high neckline and bright-Chinese-New-Year- red tone added an "aunty-ness" to her already mature-looking features. If it's any consolation, she handled her Final Q&A rather well.
It's not award-winning or anything but I thought the execution was very pretty! - hats off to the designer and production house.
Yes, that's Nicole!
Recipients from the School of Communication
The first three photos weren't taken by me and are not even mine actually, it was another fellow recipient's who blogged about it (yes, I Googled the award ceremony up and borrowed some pictures but only so that I could enrich this word-laden tapestry).
There are two main reasons as to why I'm recounting this experience:
1. I'm writing this not to gloat over my achievement (okay, maybe a little) but more importantly, to always remember God's faithfulness in my life. On the day of the award ceremony, a list of accolades for each of the recipient was announced as we made our way to the stage. I remember feeling so small because I probably had one of those barely-made-the-scholarship-requirement achievement while others were grinning ear to ear with their 10 or 20As.
On that day, I felt Scripture truly coming to life, i.e. "God uses the foolish things of this world to shame the wise..."
2. To always recognise God's plan for my life. I know this post doesn't even document my uni life per se but this was a pivotal point. Had it not been for this, let's just say, the three years that followed would have been a very different one. I remember spending a full day mulling over whether to accept the scholarship, asking God if this was truly His will. And if I'd known then what God had in store for me in three years that followed, I would have said "yes" in a heartbeat!
Let's just say, it was quite a plan.
P/S: I later learned during the award ceremony that the other candidate - now a good friend - who got that thunderous applaud when she was presenting during the interview... Turns out, it was actually an animation sound effect she inserted to her Power Point. We laughed so hard when we found out!
Six of the 19 pageant hopefuls On top of that, little attention to philanthropy, as purported heavily by most pageants, were paid – save for a catwalk down the runway for a breast cancer benefit, which in the end, served only to emphasise on the delegates’ modeling abilities or the lack of it.
But truth be told, Fonseka may not be entirely wrong in affording so much attention to the delegates’ aesthetics. Looking at the very nature of the Miss Universe pageant itself, much of the scrutiny happens way before any of the girls could even have the chance to open their months, let alone pick up a child in an act of philanthropy. These delegates need to first work their way through the swimsuit competition, the evening gown competition, before finally voicing their opinions during the “final (only) question” – a format I personally don’t sit well with, but let’s not go there today.
Reigning Miss Universe, Angola's Leila Lopes.
Now where's that Mandarin textbook?
To my beloved lawyers, who I know will be reading this some time after you land, I hope you'll do the same - keep running.
I love you very much,
Kenneth
You're probably sick of this already. If you're not, encourage me. Cos' I AM!
#4 "futilitarian"
futilitarian \fyoo-til-i-TAIR-ee-uhn\, adjective:
Believing that human hopes are vain and unjustified.
My Application
“The futilitarian in me concluded that the idea was far-fetched, a waste of time, of effort, of courage yet the optimist in me felt sure that it was still worth a shot, albeit a long one.”
Ready for today's word?
#3 "stonewall"
stonewall \STOHN-wawl\, verb:
1. To block, stall, or resist intentionally.
2. In cricket, to play a defensive game, as by persistently blocking the ball instead of batting it for distance and runs.
3. To filibuster.
My Application
“His mouth dried. His heart drummed. His toes recoiled. Kamal mustered all the courage he had and inched towards the girl seated at the far end of the park bench. As his mouth opened to articulate the words he had painstakingly rehearsed, a young man dressed in one of those one-size-too-small tees appeared before her. At this, Kamal’s half-opened mouth evolved into a long tiring yawn, stonewalling the idea altogether.”
aporia \uh-PAWR-ee-uh\, noun:
1. Difficulty determining the truth of an idea due to equally valid arguments for and against it.
2. In rhetoric, the expression of a simulated or real doubt, as about where to begin or what to do or say.
Another definition:
Aporia (Ancient Greek: : impasse; lack of resources; puzzlement; doubt; confusion) denotes, in philosophy, a philosophical puzzle or state of puzzlement, and, in rhetoric, a rhetorically useful expression of doubt.
My Application
“Two paths lay before Adam. The first paved in marble, accompanied by gold-plated railings on each side. Further ahead, convenient stores, rest stops, hot dog stands, vending machines, among others, stood embracing its travelers. With arms wrapped around each other, its travelers threw their heads back, letting out a torrent of unrestrained laughter. But standing tiptoed, he saw what looked like a dark ominous cloud greeting its travelers in the end. The second path was a series of hurdles. Potholes, bumps and crevices marred the path. The surrounding land was sparse, devoid of privileges. Its pilgrims, dramatically fewer, were slumped forward, their expression tired but determined. At the end, a pool of light shone to greet its pilgrims. Seeing this, Adam pealed off his backpack, laid it on the ground, and sat down at the fork dividing the two paths, overwhelmed by the state of aporia.”
suffrage \SUHF-rij\, noun:
1. The right to vote, especially in a political election.
2. A vote given in favor of a proposed measure, candidate, or the like.
3. In Christian practice, a prayer, especially a short intercessory prayer or petition.
My Application:
"Remember a time where our forefathers had to lay down their lives during the suffrage movement just to earn the right to vote? Had they known that free and fair elections would one day be denied anyway, perhaps the only thing worth laying down should have been their pickets."
