Miss Malaysia Tourism Pageant 2026: Jauwadee Bun Chea Crowned National Winner in Ipoh
The spotlight was on Perak as 15 finalists from across Malaysia gathered in Ipoh for the Miss Malaysia Tourism Pageant 2026 National Final, competing for three coveted national titles in a celebration of beauty, confidence, cultural diversity and the country’s tourism potential.
Held on 17 October 2026 at Kinta Riverfront Hotel Ipoh, the grand finale marked the culmination of a pageant journey that began on 7 October, with the theme “Beauty Exploration: Discover the Heritage & Adventure of Promising Perak”.
At the end of the evening, 24-year-old Jauwadee Bun Chea emerged as Miss Malaysia Tourism 2026, earning the opportunity to represent Malaysia at the 29th Miss Tourism International World Final in the Philippines on 15 December 2026 against 49 other contestants from around the world.
Miss Malaysia Tourism Pageant is franchised by D’Touch International Sdn. Bhd. This 2026 edition was organised exclusively by Timah Heritage Sdn. Bhd. and presented by Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK).
Three National Crowns, Three Tourism Ambassadresses
One of the distinctive features of the Miss Malaysia Tourism Pageant is its selection of three national titleholders in a single competition. Each winner will represent Malaysia at her respective international World Final, promoting the country’s cultural heritage, tourism attractions and renowned hospitality to a global audience.
The three winners of the 2026 edition were:
• Miss Malaysia Tourism 2026: Jauwadee Bun Chea
• Miss Malaysia Tourism Queen of the Year 2026: Veronique Lee
• Miss Malaysia Tourism Metropolitan 2026: Dhivyaa Murthi
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For Jauwadee, the evening brought multiple reasons to celebrate. Of Siamese descent, she is also the reigning Miss Songkran Malaysia 2026. In addition to winning the principal national title, she received two subsidiary awards, Miss Photogenic and Miss Elegant, making it an exceptionally memorable night.
Special and Subsidiary Awards Recognise the Finalists
Beyond the three main crowns, several awards recognised the finalists’ individual strengths, personalities, stage presence and contributions throughout the competition.
Venus Lee received the Malaysia Dreamgirl of the Year 2026 title, while Imelda Chong was named D’Touch Tourism Ambassadress 2026.
The subsidiary awards were presented as follows:
• Best in Talent: Ayasha Yan
• Miss Photogenic: Jauwadee Bun Chea
• Miss Elegant: Jauwadee Bun Chea
• Miss Sapphire Glamorous: Nichole Gere
• Miss Personality: Veronique Lee
• Best in Social Media: Veronique Lee
• Miss Popularity: Ayasha Yan
• Miss Tourism Iconic: Ayasha Yan
• Miss Lovely Heart: Imelda Chong
• Miss Friendship: Ayasha Yan
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These additional recognitions highlighted the different qualities that the competition sought to celebrate, from talent and elegance to popularity, social media engagement and the ability to build friendships among fellow contestants.
A Distinguished Panel of Judges
Selecting the winners was a panel of nine judges representing the fields of pageantry, fashion, entertainment, fitness, business and the arts.
The panel comprised Shirley Hew, Miss Malaysia Tourism Queen of the Year 2014, who is also an aviation and training industry director, entrepreneur and lawyer; Yingli Tan (Zoee), Miss Malaysia Queen of Tourism 1996, film producer, actress and kickboxing and Muay Thai instructor; and Abee Low, a men’s physique masters title winner and founder of Absolution Fitness, ABS Fitness Hardcore Gym and AB Fitness Academy.
They were joined by Datin Caroline Wong, Ambassador of Perak Turf Club; Datin Winnie Loo, founder of A Cut Above and a prominent figure in Malaysia’s hairdressing industry; Eugenee Ooi, Miss Malaysia Tourism Queen of the Year 2011 and model artiste; Eric Choong, Malaysian fashion designer, contemporary artist and fashion design lecturer at ESMOD Kuala Lumpur; Angela Chan, actress and film producer; and Herman Wong, President of the Malaysia Perak Art Society.
Their varied professional backgrounds brought different perspectives to the judging process, reflecting the pageant’s emphasis on more than physical appearance alone.
The evening also featured special performances by Angela Chan and Ivy Yap, adding entertainment to the pageant.
Perak Takes Centre Stage
For Perak, hosting the national final was an opportunity to showcase the state as a destination with a rich heritage, distinctive attractions and plenty of experiences for visitors.
Among the places visited were Kuala Sepetang, Ipoh Railway Station and Art Market Lane. These excursions gave the contestants opportunities to experience different aspects of Perak, from its architectural landmarks and local character to its tourism offerings.
Such visits also provided opportunities to share the state’s attractions with audiences beyond Malaysia. With contestants coming from different parts of the country, the pageant became a platform for promoting Perak to a wider domestic audience as well as the international tourism community.
The event was attended by state representatives and members of Perak’s business and social circles. Yang Berhormat Jenny Choy Tsi Jen, Deputy Speaker of the Perak State Legislative Assembly, attended as the Guest of Honour, representing Yang Berhormat Loh Sze Yee, Perak State Executive Council member responsible for Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development.
The presence of a state representative underscored the importance of collaboration between tourism stakeholders, businesses and the community in promoting Perak.
Beauty with a Purpose: Supporting DAYBREAK Through Fashion and Community Engagement
Beyond the glamour of the pageant, the Miss Malaysia Tourism Pageant 2026 also highlighted the importance of social responsibility and community engagement through its activities involving DAYBREAK.
DAYBREAK stands for Disabled Adults and Youths Being Rewarded, Encouraged, and Accepted. The centre supports persons with disabilities, helping to promote their abilities, participation and inclusion in the community.
During pageant week, the 15 finalists visited DAYBREAK to learn more about its work and the people it supported. The visit formed part of the pageant’s efforts to encourage greater awareness and appreciation of the community, demonstrating that the contestants’ roles extended beyond the stage.
Another meaningful highlight took place at AEON MALL Ipoh Station 18, where the 15 finalists met the public at a special fashion showcase that brought together beauty, fashion and a worthy cause.
The event featured batik fashion creations by students of Persatuan DAYBREAK, with the Miss Malaysia Tourism finalists taking to the runway to model their designs. The showcase provided an opportunity for the students’ creative work to be presented to a wider audience, while introducing the public to their talents through the art of fashion.
By featuring these batik creations as part of a national pageant event, the organisers brought together cultural appreciation and community inclusion in a meaningful way. The showcase also gave the finalists an opportunity to connect with the public while supporting the work of DAYBREAK.
These initiatives added a more personal dimension to the pageant experience, highlighting how events of this scale could help raise awareness of social causes while celebrating Malaysian talent, creativity and cultural heritage.
Miss Malaysia Tourism: A Legacy Since 1994
Founded in 1994 by Tan Sri Datuk Danny Ooi, the Miss Malaysia Tourism Pageant has developed into an established national platform connecting beauty, culture and tourism.
Over the years, more than 122 Miss Malaysia titleholders have been crowned, building a legacy of Malaysian representation at international pageants. Its three-title format allows several outstanding contestants to take their place on the global stage, each contributing to the promotion of Malaysia through tourism and cultural exchange.
The competition also provides a platform for young women to demonstrate their leadership, talent and confidence. Rather than focusing solely on appearance, it encourages contestants to become representatives of Malaysian culture, tourism and friendship.
The 2026 edition was particularly significant as it led towards the pageant’s 30th anniversary in 2027, marking three decades of developing tourism ambassadors and showcasing Malaysian talent.
Timah Heritage: Promoting Malaysian Culture Through Tourism
The exclusive national final organiser, Timah Heritage Sdn. Bhd., was founded by Puan Sri Dato’ Sandra Lee, with Ms Anita Phang and Mr Kingsley Ting as co-founders. The company operates Timah Explorer, its flagship brand in Ipoh Old Town.
Timah Explorer focuses on cultural journeys that bring Malaysia’s history, identity and diversity to life through storytelling and experiences. Its involvement in the pageant reflects the connection between heritage tourism and events that bring people together to celebrate the country.
By hosting a national competition in Perak, Timah Heritage helped create another opportunity to introduce the state’s attractions and cultural character to contestants, guests and audiences beyond the region.
Video (above): Miss Malaysia Tourism Pageant 2026 National Final
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Event: Miss Malaysia Tourism Pageant 2026 National Final
Venue: Kinta Riverfront Hotel, Ipoh
Date: 17th October 2026
Time: 7pm
