Tongue in Chic - Estee Lauder Model Search Finals 2009

Estee Lauder Model Search Finals 2009

Filed In Events by claudia | Comments: 20 | Views: 1875

Yesterday, I dropped by KLCC to catch the Estee Lauder Model Search Finals after 11 weeks of competition. The event condensed the initial 3,200 entrants into a final walk-off between 20 finalists. Can you say drama-rama?

Guests were literally packed like a can of sardines. Because I didn't have a fancy DSLR, I had to station myself right next to the panel of judges to get a better view for my puny digital camera at the expense of banging elbows with Miko Au (CEO of Miko Hair Studio).

The rest of the judges included Amber Chia, Sonny San, Andrew Tan, George Wong (Sony's Product Manager), Lynn Lim (Estee Lauder brand ambassador), and Katrina Liew (Estee Launder Brand General Manager).

On the plus side, I got a clear view of their judging scores throughout the event! :)

Here are the 20 finalists making their entrance stroll, all clad in Eclipse clothes! 10 of them are competing for Group A (below 29) and the remaining 10, for Group B (30 years and above).

Contestants had about 5 minutes on stage each to answer a beauty contest-esque question and impress the judges based on communication skills, poise, body shape, beauty and their walk.

Some of the answers were laugh-out loud funny. When asked about whether she'd choose a career over becoming a homemaker, one contestant irrelevantly started name dropping Gandhi. Another belted out Mariah Carey's "Hero"... I kid you not.

Emcees Daphne Iking and Nazrudin Rahman then called all the contestants back on stage for the award-giving ceremony.

The subsidiary prizes (open to all contestants from both categories) saw Jennifer Pedersen winning the Sony Most Photo Perfect award, and Juanita bagging the Eclipse Most Elegant and andrewsmodels Most Promising Catwalk awards.

You might recognise Juanita as she was the winner of Malaysian Dreamgirl 2009. :) She was fierce through and through - from her pictures to all her time onstage.

The winners for the Estee Lauder Model Search 2009 were Jennifer Pedersen (for category A) and yoga instructor, Carol Lai (category B). Each of them won RM35,000 worth of prizes each and Estee Lauder Malaysia Brand Ambassador titles.

Here are their winning shots:

Jennifer (subsidiary prize and category A winner)

Carol (category B winner)

Juanita (subsidiary prize winner)

What do you think of their winning shots? If you were following the competition, who do you think should've won?

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20 COMMENTS

Sort: Newest first | Oldest first

can we sent jennifer to beauty pageant?

Posted by aizatcintagoddess on 14 July

I'm surprised noone broke out in an interpretive dance in reply to the questions. Even miming would have been bloody hilarious. There are some strange people out there that apply for beauty contests for sure.

Posted by Franky on 14 July

juanita gives much better face than jennifer pederson!

Posted by mizzchick on 15 July

It's Jennifer Pedersen not Pederson...

XoXo

Posted by callmebat on 15 July

I personally think Juanita should have won... for her to have bagged two out of three subsidiary titles speaks volumes of her model potential, and is this not after all a model search?

Her photo blew me away... That is the kind of subtle elegance that the Estee Lauder brand is all about...

if Juanita had won, it would have been a refreshing change... to see a woman of duskier shade representing an ideal of beauty...

to be honest I'm sick of seeing only lighter skinned women being promoted as beautiful and brand ambassador-worthy in Malaysia... isn't it about time for a change, people?

Posted by adriana on 17 July

I agree with you Adriana. Her shot was probably the most model like among all the ladies in the comp.
And doesn't Estee Lauder actually use an African American as part of its campaign? Why can't we have a little more diversity? I hate saying this but I think the Malaysian ideal of beauty is a bit skewed at times...

Posted by Shireen Pannu on 17 July

i would say tat the winner for category A is not really impressive..
she dun really have the face to represent estee lauder..quite disappointed wit the result..

Posted by little angel on 17 July

i agree with adriana said, true that Jennifer are the subsidiary prize and category A winner. nothing special..... maybe the judges like fair skin. Come on be Differences from other. Estee Lauder u are special..........

Posted by applewong on 17 July

totally agreed.. =(
its sad and depressing to c that the future of beautiful women in malaysia are gonna be the eurasians..
we have authentic and ethnic beauty too!!
if u wanna pick a gorgeous malaysian, i'd say go for the 'original' ones..
lotsa eurasians out there, but it's not hard to find a BEAUTIFUL local..
i bet there ARE authentic Malaysian locals out there who are much more beautiful than the 'eurasian beauties' of Malaysia..

no offense, Jennifer's pretty.. but her looks doesnt represent Malaysia..

Posted by lala88 on 19 July

im agree wif u lala..

better make Estee Lauder We Dont Wan Local Beauties Model Search lor..pretty does not mean have to be mix wif 'om putih lor'. make the rest feel ugly.

Posted by kimbee on 19 July

i agree too. jennifer is pretty, but she's not the best among the others. i think juanita is way better than her and she should be the winner instead of jennifer pedersen.. her body isn't that great compared to juanita.

Posted by david on 22 July

You all here is nothing bettter to do and WOW! i think you all are better than the judges. Well, most important is, she (Jennifer) WON! tough luck!! and i am sure the estee lauder knows better then you all to judge who is the winner.
You all can join next year and good luck :) I will be so happy to comment you...

Posted by Lucy on 25 July

Estee Lauder model search is not all about yr height, you are sexy or not sexy. it is all about how you represent yr self with the product and still look beautiful with or without make up. Personality is also very important, Jennifer has all that, personality, the with or without make up. That is why she is the winner. Wake up!!!

Posted by Lucy on 25 July

Chill out Lucy. You're embarrassing yourself.
These people are just sounding their opinion which I find much more relevant that what you have said. You can make your point too but just RELAX.

Posted by You sound silly on 25 July

oh dear lucy, read the last sentence in the post.

"If you were following the competition, who do you think should've won?"

you're entitled to your opinion but shooting other people down just because theirs differ from yours isnt very nice eh? :)

Posted by :) on 26 July

I agree with the majority of u...Juanita's look is axotic and estee lauder should change their mindset and concept in searching for their Model...We had enuff with all fair and caucasion look model...why dun make a change here..A little.Refreshment ....thats what we need..I believe estee lauder makeup its not only created for fair skin rite..??

Posted by JJ on 29 July

sorry typo error axotic=*exotic

Posted by JJ on 29 July

I'm from Canada and used to model when I was younger. I was looking at the two girls that won and "TRUST ME" they would be not even get a second look from any of the North American or European agencies. Unfortunately, Malaysia is so focused on white/fair skin that anyone in this industry from Malaysia doesn't have the mind to think out of the box. As mean as this sounds I bet you these judges wouldn't go far in any European/American agency.

Posted by SM on 08 September

I think Jennifer is amazing, and she won because of her sparkling personality even outside the competition. It doesn't matter if she's eurasion or not, its not her fault what nationality she belongs to. she won, fair and very square. congrats =)

Posted by Abby on 23 September

personally..i so agree that juanita deserve to win n based on personal experience in pageants..i do strongly feel that judges are biased n always go 4 d fair skinned chinese or eurasian compared to other races..no hard feelings but that is d fact.come on..get it out of ur heads malaysians..u'll always be left behind if u don't go 4 difference..

Posted by lisa on 24 November

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