The 51 National Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan finalists pose with 2023 Sabah State Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan, Carol Abbey Gail Grimaldi (front row, 10th from right) at the Hilton Hotel. KOTA KINABALU (May 26): The Sabah State-level Unduk Ngadau (harvest beauty queen) contest has been upgraded to national level this year with the winner carrying greater responsibility. 2024 National Unduk Ngadau organising chairperson Joanna Kitingan said that the pageant had attracted a lot of participation from West Malaysia to promote the cultural heritage of the Kadazandusun Murut and Rungus (KDMR) people.
She also said that it was the longest running cultural pageant in the country and had been held for 64 years. “Unduk Ngadau, now 64 years old, is the longest-running cultural heritage pageant in Malaysia. This competition stands apart from other beauty pageants, making its continued relevance essential,” she said when welcoming the 51 Unduk Ngadau finalists for registration at Hilton Hotel here today.
Of the 51 finalists, eight are from outside Sabah. The finalists from Sabah are Richella Kan Siang Feng (Kemabong), Sueillvindra Tangumoh (Pagalungan), Junesia Nesious (Sook), Marcerine Marcus Molison (Penampang), Clarice Octavia Peter (Tambunan), Magdelen Binti Jenny (Papar), Alesyah Asa (Nabawan), Edna Christabella Kin Vun (Matunggong) and Locebeth Linsing (KDCA Bandaraya). Also contesting from Sabah are Marcy Grace Lojuki (Putatan), Vanessa Geafri (Kudat), Cathlana Augustine (Karambunai), Joanne.
