Months of intensive training and activities have culminated with the much anticipated Miss CosmoWorld 2023 International World Final which finally came to a close at the St. Regis Kuala Lumpur tonight, as beauty queens from 25 countries compete on stage. 23-year-old Shelby Ann Howell, hailing from the United States of America (USA) was crowned the Miss CosmoWorld 2023 International World winner, and the subsidiary title of Miss Photogenic. The first runner-up went to Elda Louise Aznar from the Philippines, 28, who also bagged five subsidiary titles and the title for Best National Costume, while the second runner-up was awarded to Maryna Karpeka, 26, from Ukraine.
Despite not being selected into the Top 5, Malaysia’s Tay Cheah (谢莹莹) did not go home empty-handed, and won herself the subsidiary title of Miss Talent. Witnessed by Miss CosmoWorld’s Honorary Advisors, Tengku Hishamuddin Dato Dr. Hishammudin bin Zaizi bin Y.A.M Tengku Azman Shah Alhaj and Dato’ Sri Chong Chin Fung, the global finale offered the biggest grand prize in pageant history, worth RM1.93 million including sponsored perks and benefits, as well as the sought-after cash prize of USD 100,000 (approx. RM 470,000) by GetBats.
“I’ve felt empowered during my time here, and I have always dreamed of this since I was young. Moving forward, I want to organize events, strengthen my social media, and I want to donate my time to many different charities, and give back to the community. I will also speak with Carrie about bringing this pageant to the USA, because I believe lots of women would love to join Miss CosmoWorld, and it could empower many women there, as well,” said Howell, when asked about her win and plans after Miss CosmoWorld 2023.
Carrie Lee, Founder of Miss CosmoWorld, expressed, “Our vision is to empower women, to celebrate their strength, intelligence and resilience. We believe true beauty lies in confidence, character, and the power to make a difference. Today, we embark on a journey that will not only crown a queen but inspire and uplift women from all corners of the world. We are committed to nurturing and showcasing the talents, intelligence, and leadership qualities of these beauty queens.”
The seventh edition of Miss CosmoWorld International World Final was organized after the beauty queens from countries such as Canada, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Australia, South Africa, Rwanda, the United States of America (USA), and others go through a program filled with activities, designed to stimulate the spirit of competition among the contestants.
The contestants were brought to Melaka for the final activities as a part of the three-day activities that included talent performances, fruit and flower plucking, and several others. The six best talents were then chosen to perform at the finale. Along with preparation for a healthier lifestyle, the trip also involved team-building sessions conducted by EbakzSports, training the beauty queens to strengthen not only their mindsets but also their spirit and determination. The excursion was mainly for the benefit of the participants but also to showcase Malaysia as the perfect tourist destination. Heritage sites, local food areas, and historical landmarks were part of the tour during their stay in sunny Melaka.
Miss CosmoWorld 2023 is organized by CL Skin Beauty Sdn. Bhd, with Getbats as the cash prize sponsor, First Pavilion Global Berhad (FPG Berhad), and propBUDDIES.com as Title Sponsors. MeLife is partnered as the Malaysia Grand Final Platinum Sponsor and Hyatt Place Kuala Lumpur serves as the Accommodation Sponsor. Special titles include Miss Healthy (presented by Gintell); Miss Glamorous (presented by Prife International); Miss Photogenic (presented by MeLife); Miss Personality (presented by FPG Berhad); Miss Talent (presented by Dato’ Jimmy Poh); Miss Congeniality (presented by Hyatt Place Kuala Lumpur); Miss Courage (presented by CL Skin Beauty Sdn. Bhd); Best Creativity (presented by Prop Buddies), and Miss Popularity (presented by Carrie Collections).