Introduction
Tabi basa and greetings balarantek! For those who didn’t know, balarantek means Tukang Rantek family, a combination of bala, which means family and short of Tukang Rantek. I am happy to see that my posts before this has inspired many peoples. Throughout my journey, I have met a lot of wonderful peoples, from all walks of life. Today, I want to write about two of them – Priscilla & Vivianna.
About Priscilla
Priscilla is an Iban-Bidayuh girl, where her late mother hails from Bau, and her father comes from Betong. She always said that she inherits her extra iron-willed stubbornness from her father. Instead of being disappointed and give up in life after facing so many backlashes, she grew to be more feisty and involved in many events, with recent event organised Lady Vivid 2021. She has been organising a lot of events previously since her university days, but she decides to let history be history. Hence, none is written in this section.
About Vivianna
Vivianna is an Iban-Kayan girl, a Medical Assistant by profession, is Miss Supermodel Worldwide Borneo Malaysia in 2018, and Miss Sarawak Earth Water 2017, organised by Sarawak Earth Queen.
The Sarawak Earth Queen Beauty Pageant Competition is an International Environmental Event channeling the beauty pageant entertainment industry as an effective tool to promote environmental awareness. For those who didn’t know, Miss Earth is the third-largest international pageant competition among women from countries around the world, after Miss Universe and Miss World. The delegates and winners give meaning and relevance to this beauty competition by promoting worthwhile environmental causes and getting actively involved in caring for the preservation of Mother Earth. This is a true celebration of a woman’s natural beauty, poise and personality. In fact, Miss Earth incorporates a special ‘Natural Beauty’ round where a women’s natural beauty is judged sans make-up or make-over. A tribute to natural beauty that is a reflection of the beauty within.
This pageant organized for the first time aims to appreciate what a women always wants – to be a natural beauty. Unblemished, immaculate and refreshingly natural! The pageant is held yearly in October or November in Manila, Philippines.
The winner of the pageant is bestowed the title Miss Malaysia Earth; her runners-up are also given titles named after the other classical elements: Miss Eco Beauty, Miss Eco Tourism, Miss Fire, Miss Water, and Miss Air, are of equal importance and thus have the same ranking. Miss Malaysia Earth is the only pageants which have individual titles for the runners-up. Their pageant criteria are ladies with age within 17 – 26, possess beauty face and proportionate body structure, outgoing and friendly. Excellent physical condition. For more enquiry, you may e-mail them at borneorepublicmalaysia@gmail.com.
Miss Supermodel Worldwide Borneo Malaysia is a pageant that supports the great cause of women empowerment especially ‘stop female foeticide’. The motto of the pageant is ‘beauty with intellect’. The pageant is a combination of glamour and a purpose. Apart from all the preliminary activities and sub-competitions, the pageant will also promote tourism and will cover various parts of the world’s largest democracy, India. It is a search for a face that is unapologetically beautiful and represents a modern and independent 21st century woman in the best way.
Apart from world of pageantry, Vivianna also can be seen in Alena Murang’s videoclip, Midang Midang. She also conducted few catwalk classes for those who would like to learn more in that craft.
Priscilla In The Eyes of Vivianna
Typically, I would be writing about the people based on the information that they gave to me. But for this time around, I asked these two to comment about each other and to see whether their expectations matches. In the eye of Vivianna, Priscilla is a more serious person, while she is more fun-side. After spending time with each other, she knows when to joke with her, and when to not. For her, Priscilla is like a big sister, where she tells her everything – from boy issue to problem at work etc. For new opinion and ideas, Priscilla appreciates her point of view and they love to bounce ideas together to create a better one.
During their first time meeting one another, they had a bad impression. During that time, it was Beauty and The Bike event in 2017. Priscilla was the one who organised the event, while she was one of the contestants. Despite her good package of talent, beauty and charisma, she didn’t win and she thought she chose her friends to be the winner. Priscilla also thought that she was an arrogant person because she joins a lot of bigger and more prestigious events. After BNTB 2017, they were still not close. Their sisterhood started after her Miss Earth event is over back in 2018. Priscilla approached her to mentor her talents for Beauty and The Bike event in 2018. The rest is history.
Their sisterhood really is all about bringing out the best in one another. For her, Priscilla is more than just a friend. Most importantly, she is not toxic. Instead, she oozes out this aura that makes anyone around her believes that everything is possible. She’s not just a friend that you would invite to drink at Ming Café. She is not a friend to go to pub and club together. She is also not a backstabber, which is important in life because you want someone whom you can rely on in times of difficult, not just good times. She didn’t expect them to be friend until now.
Vivianna In The Eyes of Priscilla
As for Vivianna’s story, they met each other during Miri Bike Week 2017. Priscilla was the organiser and Vivianna was the contestant. For Pris, even though Vivianna didn’t win, she was very supportive and joins in her clases and event. Pris look highly upon Vivianna and values her insight because she has achieved what many couldn’t in their career. Pageantry and Kumang is more than just pretty face, but one has to be equipped with the right skills as well. On stage, she’s like a goddess, a genuine Kumang and knows Adat Iban, all the customs and tradition as any Kumang should be.
According to Pris, Vivianna was a laid back and low profile girl, the very traits that bonds them together apart from being family-oriented. She can bring her sister or family to any of Divabiz’s events, and Pris can hang out at her home. Vivianna is goofy, while Pris told me that she is always blur. They complement each other’s weaknesses and strength. Vivianna is more content about life and more reserved in speech, while Pris was more outspoken. But when she speaks, she’s savage. Like a sniper, she will shoot straight to the point, with facts. She’s very sharp as well, and can see if the person has bad intention or not. Despite her calm countenance, she is more furious. Both of them likes to eat.
What We Can Learn?
From these two ladies, I learned that we should be committed to whatever we do. It’s ok to say NO to other things if it contradicts to your goal. You can’t be spending all of your time to learn mathematics when all you want to be is a singer. Spend your time wisely. Above all, do not forget your family. Family always comes first. If you have a friend that can be part of your family, that would be a good bonus as well because in that way, your family knows who your circle of friends are. Not just spending mindless time outside without any particular purposes.
Another key lesson is not everyone will like you, especially those who are threatened by your very existence. How to manage these peoples? Stay away from them. Unless they threatened to harm you, then it is a police case already. I still stick to my mother’s teachings here; make friends as many as you can. If people do bad things to you, do not retaliate in kind nor stoop down to their level. Instead, brush off the dirt, and do better than yesterday.
That’s all I would like to write about these two ladies. I do hope that their story inspires you, especially those who are still lost. Whatever you want to achieve, when there is a will, there is a way.
Tukang Rantek,
Claudius
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Note: Claudius Weson is a “tukang rantek” (photographer in Bidayuh Pichin) based in Miri, mainly doing portraiture (indoor / studio / outdoor photoshoot), weddings and event photography.
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