SPOTLIGHT: Miss Universe Malaysia 2020 Francisca Luhong James

A 25-year-old part-time model and former public relations and marketing executive, Francisca Luhong James, will represent Malaysia at the 69th Miss Universe pageant in Hollywood, Florida this May.

The Kayan-Kenyah-Iban native from Kuching, Sarawak, is the first woman with full native heritage to win the Miss Universe Malaysia title. She holds a first-class honors degree in mass communications and majored in public relations.

Beauty-and-brain Francisca used to be a track-and-field athlete who despite having asthma was awarded three medals and she would like to inspire more native women to pursue their dreams. Besides advocating for women's empowerment, she also started a foundation Beyond Aid to raise money for refugees and underprivileged children.

In a recent interview with a Malaysian morning TV show, she was asked "Why should you be the next Miss Universe?" and she genuinely replied: "I should be the next Miss Universe because I am not just representing myself and my country but I'm representing all the women who think that they are small, and those who came from a minority group, that they too have equal chance to create their own history and to be their owned universe."

Malaysia has yet to win the Miss Universe pageant. The country's highest achievement happened 51 years ago with Josephine Lena Wong who placed in the Top 15 during Miss Universe 1970.


Photos: Blackpepper Production / Hair: Sheila Mohamad / Makeup: Shaari Amin / Wardrobe: Rizman Ruzaini / Shoes: Rizman Ruzaini

Popular posts from this blog

Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2025 is Valeria Meléndez of Caguas

Image
Miss Earth Caguas Valeria Meléndez was proclaimed Miss Earth Puerto Rico 2025 in a national competition held on Saturday, February 1 at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Caguas. The 25-year-old fashion designer edged out 17 other contestants to win the national title. She will represent Puerto Rico at the Miss Earth 2025 pageant. Valeria was crowned by her predecessor Bianca Caraballo who made the Top 8 at Miss Earth 2024 last November in the Philippines. "I still can't find the words to describe what I feel right now. It has been a path of much effort, sacrifices, and growth, but every step has been worth it," she shared online. "This crown is not just mine, it belongs to everyone who has been part of this dream. Now a new chapter begins, and I promise to give my best on the international stage. Puerto Rico, this is for you." The new Miss Earth Puerto Rico was joined by her co-winners Miss Global Puerto Rico 2025 Gabriela Vázquez of Salinas and Miss Earth Puerto Ri...
Read more

Miss Connecticut USA 2025 is Jenna Hofmann

Image
Miss Fairfield USA Jenna Hofmann was crowned Miss Connecticut USA 2025 on Sunday, January 26 at the Marriott Hartford Windsor Airport in Windsor, Connecticut. The 23-year-old real estate professional, originally from New York, will now prepare to represent Connecticut at the Miss USA 2025 pageant. She succeeds last year's winner Shavana Clarke. Amber Corbett (Fairfield County) was named first runner-up while Samantha Labonne (Southbury), Christina Judd (New Haven County), and Samantha Sarelli (Westport) were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jenna Hofmann (@jennahofmann) The new Miss Connecticut USA is a communications graduate of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. She is no stranger to pageantry, having previously competed in Miss New York USA and Miss New York Teen USA and finishing second runner-up in last year's Miss Connecticut USA pageant. Also crowned on Sunday was Mi...
Read more

Miss America 2025: Meet the contestants

Image
The Miss America 2025 final competition will be held this Sunday, January 5 at The Walt Disney Theater of the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida. You can watch the Miss America as well as Miss America's Teen 2025 preliminary competition, talent competition, gala fashion show, and finals live streaming on PageantVision.com   site. Fifty-two (52) contestants from across the country are vying for the national title. One of them will be crowned by reigning Miss America Madison Marsh at the culmination of this year's pageant. Following several years of hiatus, Puerto Rico has returned to the pageant. In terms of eligibility rules, the pageant only allows unmarried women, and transgender entrants must have fully completed gender affirming surgery from male to female to participate. Back in 2023, Brían Nguyen from New Hampshire was crowned Miss Greater Derry and made history as the first-ever transgender woman to win a local competition for Miss America. Ticke...
Read more

71st Miss World: Meet the delegates from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Honduras and Venezuela

Image
Over 20 beauties have already been confirmed as representatives of their respective countries and territories for the 71st Miss World edition. The final competition and official venue of the prestigious pageant are yet to be announced by the Miss World Organization. Reigning queen Karolina Bielawska of Poland, the second Polish to win Miss World, will crown her successor at the end of the event. Here are the delegates from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Honduras, and Venezuela: Miss World Bolivia 2021 Fernanda Rivero is 20 years old and currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in International Trade. She won the title Miss Bolivia Mundo 2021 while representing Beni during the national competition held in August last year. Miss World Costa Rica 2022 Krisly Salas, a 24-year-old nutrition student and founder of the social project “Cuenta Conmigo” was named Señorita Costa Rica last February. The purpose of the project is to be a voice of encouragement to those who suffer from anxiety...
Read more

Miss Universe 2024: Meet the contestants

Image
Miss Universe 2024, the 73rd Miss Universe pageant will be held on November 16 at the the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico. The country known for its rich culture, ancient ruins, dazzling beaches, and incredible cuisine has been chosen to host the competition for the fifth time after 1978, 1989, 1993, and 2007. A total of 127 national queens have been crowned up to this point and are all set to compete in this year's highly anticipated beauty pageant. Reigning Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua will crown her successor at the end of the much-awaited event. Don't forget to download the Miss Universe official app and vote for your favorites. The most-voted contestant will automatically earn a spot in the Top 30. Who will be crowned the next Miss Universe? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe (@missuniverse) Meet the contestants: Albania - Franceska Rustem Angola - Nelma Ferreira Argentina - Magalí Benejam Armen...
Read more

Miss Venezuela 2022: Meet the 24 official contestants

Image
The highly anticipated official presentation of the 24 contestants vying for Miss Venezuela 2022 took place on Saturday, November 10 in Caracas. Hosted by "Súper Sábado Sensacional" presenter Henrys Silva, the special show aired on Venevisión with simultaneous live streaming on missvenezuela.tv . The reigning queens, Miss Venezuela 2021 Amanda Dudamel, Miss Venezuela World 2021 Ariagny Daboin, and Miss International Venezuela 2020 Isbel Parra were also present for the sashing ceremony. Miss Venezuela 2022 final night will be held on Thursday, November 16 at Poliedro de Caracas. As usual, the winners are expected to compete in Miss Universe, Miss World, and Miss International 2023 pageants. Here are the 24 finalists representing the regions and states of Venezuela: Miss Amazonas - Katheryne Bello Miss Anzoátegui - Mariángel Tovar Miss Apure - Luisana Siso Miss Aragua - Jessica Alaimo Miss Barinas - Jenyfeer Baudin Miss Bolívar - Ana Elena Erazo Miss Carabobo - Lorena ...
Read more

Singapore's Madeleine Poh crowned Mrs. Petite Global 2025

Image
Singaporean lawyer Madeleine Poh was crowned Mrs. Petite Global 2025 in an international pageant held on January 9 at Shantanand Auditorium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 28-year-old newly-wed has made history as the first Singaporean representative to be crowned Mrs Petite Global. She also bagged several awards including Best in Evening Gown, Sport Wear, Interview, and Catwalk. Margaret Riba of Borneo clinched the Mrs. Elite Petite Global 2025 title while Jolynn Ch'ng of Malaysia, Ruby Tran of Vietnam, Aya Sakuma of Japan, and Tomomi Mori, also from Japan, were proclaimed the runners-up. "As the first Singaporean to win this prestigious international title, I believe this is a significant achievement for our country," said the new Mrs. Petite Global. "As a lawyer and a strong advocate for increased access to legal justice, I am committed to using this platform to raise awareness about important social issues and inspire other petite married women to pursue their dre...
Read more

Miss Czech Republic 2022: Meet the newly crowned winners

Image
Five national titles were at stake at the culmination of this year's Miss Czech Republic pageant that took place at Fórum Karlín in Prague on Saturday, May 7. Krystyna Pyszková, a 23-year-old model and student from Třince was named Miss Czech Republic 2022 / Miss World Czech Republic 2022. She succeeds Karolína Kopíncová and will now prepare to represent the Czech Republic at the 71st Miss World (Miss World 2022) later this year. Adéla Maděryčová (23), Kristýna Malířová (23), Mariana Bečková (23), and Karolína Syroťuková (20) clinched the titles Miss International Czech Republic, Miss Supranational Czech Republic, Miss Grand Czech Republic and Miss Intercontinental Czech Republic, respectively. They will be sent to the next edition of their respective international competitions namely Miss International, Miss Supranational, Miss Grand International, and Miss Intercontinental. Reigning Miss Supranational from Namibia, Chanique Rabe, was a special guest at the glittering event. Miss ...
Read more

Miss Grand International announces new fifth runner-up, braces amid controversies

Image
Miss Grand Philippines Roberta Tamondong has been officially announced by the MGI organization as the new Miss Grand International 2022 fifth runner-up. The 20-year-old environmental awareness advocate was part of the Top 20 semi-finalists during the Miss Grand International 2022 final competition in Jakarta, Indonesia on October 25. She replaced the "Miss Popular Vote" winner and Top 10 finalist Yuvna Rinishta of Mauritius, who refused to sign a contract and resigned due to personal reasons. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Roberta Tamondong (@roberta.tamondong) Roberta seemed to have accepted the replacement offer after posting the announcement on her social media and changing her bio. She is now expected to join the rest of the Top 10 in Bangkok, Thailand to assume the duties and responsibilities that come with her new position and also be part of the pageant's 10th-year anniversary world tour. Amid the announcement, MGI has been receiv...
Read more

Makaʻala Perry to represent Hawaii at Miss International 2023

Image
Makaʻala Perry is the newly appointed Miss International Hawaii 2023 and will represent the Aloha State at Miss International 2023 in Japan this October. The 24-year-old flight attendant, business owner, and musician was announced as Priscilla Wang's successor for the national title last month. Besides working for Hawaiian Airlines and running her own business called Sunbeams Creamery, a dessert shop located in Wahiawa, she is also pursuing her bachelor of arts degree in music at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. As a musician and hula dancer, she performs regularly doing seasonal shows at the Four Seasons Ko’olina and travels to Japan, Canada, and Taiwan sharing her love of music and dance. Born and raised on the island of Oʻahu, Makaʻala is passionate about preserving the arts and perpetuating Hawaiian culture. She hopes to inspire others to follow their passions in life and make a positive impact on our communities. The 61st Miss International pageant will be held in Shibuya, ...
Read more