KOTA KINABALU: The winner of the Johor Bahru Unduk Ngadau contest will compete in the State-level Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan pageant this year.
Chairperson of the Sabah Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2014, Joanna Kitingan, yesterday said it is the first time that Johor Bahru is sending its representative to the state-level competition scheduled to start from May 27 until May 31.
“There are many Sabahans in Johor Bahru and in Singapore,” she told reporters at a press conference.
With the newest addition, the State-level Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2014 will feature 42 Unduk Ngadau aspirants.
Joanna informed that the registration of all the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan contestants will take place on May 27 and this will be followed by a video and photography session.
“That night, we will hold the Sodop Pintutunan (introduction night), whereby sashes will be presented to all the contestants by the wife of the Huguan Siou, Puan Sri Genevieve Kitingan,” she said.
The next day, the contestants will attend a talk on cultural tourism and on motivation. There will also be a personal grooming and make-up class for the contestants before they visit the Heritage Village at the State Museum near here.
On May 29, the contestants will attend the Sodop Unduk Ngadau dinner (night of the Unduk Ngadau) at the Hongkod Koisaan (Kadazandusun Cultural Village) near here.
Joanna reminded that members of the public would be required to purchase tickets to attend the event that will showcase a parade by the Unduk Ngadau aspirants in their evening gowns. Tickets are sold at the entrance of the Hongkod Koisaan on that night at RM5 per person for gallery seating.
Meanwhile, tables for the dinner are still be available at RM2,000 and RM3,000 each.
“We will be crowning two subsidiary titles, namely the Tati Tosuau (Miss Friendly) and Tati Topiodo (Miss Natural Beauty) during that night,” she said.
On May 30, the contestants will undergo their full rehearsals in preparation for the finals the next day.
The Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2014 competition will begin at 1pm with the introduction of the judges and the auditor, followed by a Huminodun Dance by Era Budaya. Seven finalists will be selected from the 42 contestants, and of these, one will be crowned the 2014 Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan, said Joanna.
The event is expected to be graced by the wife of the Head of State, Toh Puan Datuk Seri Panglima Hajjah Norlidah Datuk R. M. Jasni.
Also present at the press conference yesterday was the vice president of Genting Hong Kong, Edward Johann Leong.