Filipino beauty bags Miss Chinese Cosmos SEA title

Frances Cham (center). The Star Online / Asia News Network/ LOW BOON TAT

In a classic case of finding strength through adversity, 26-year-old Frances Cham, who suffered a sprained ankle within days of the Miss Chinese Cosmos Southeast Asia 2014, was rewarded for her determination with the crown and prizes worth RM100,183 (P1,371,442).

The Filipina interior designer had a way with words during the introduction of the contestants as well as the question-and-answer segments, which helped charm her way to winning the crown.

“Life is a continuous learning process, therefore education is life itself and very important,” she said when the top eight contestants had to speak in support of a random statement revealed by the emcees.

Cham also took home the Miss Beautiful Smile subsidiary title which comes with a RM1,000 (P13689) cash prize, trophy and sash.

She will represent the region at the Miss Chinese Cosmos International World Final 2014, organized by Phoenix Satellite Television Company Limited, later this year.

The first runner-up was Malaysian Eugenee Ooi while the second runner-up was Indonesian Irma Janita, who took home RM68,684 and RM66,184 in cash and prizes, respectively.

This year’s pageant also marks the tenth year since Malaysian actress Carrie Lee Sze Kei won the international title for the same pageant.

Lee, who had since founded the White Fairy Sdn Bhd events company and owned the regional franchise for the pageant, said there was more to the winner of the contest than physical beauty.

“Outer beauty does not last forever but inner beauty does.

“People say do not judge a book by its cover and I agree because the content makes it memorable.

“That is how I see myself as well and I hope to continue adding more pages and quality content to my ‘book’,” she said.

During the pageant finals held at the Palace of the Golden Horses, Lee performed Adele’s Set Fire To The Rain before joining other past pageant winners in a sexy dance routine.

The pageant this year also helped raise funds for the Jahai Orang Asli in the Belum rainforest under a program with the Bandar Utama Rotary Club, OKU Marine Discovery Dive and Lejadi Foundation.