60-year-old grandmother walks the runway in pageant for mums.

Saturday May 15, 2010

By DESIREE TRESA GASPER
desiree@thestar.com.my  www.thestar.com.my

JOHOR BARU: Despite having the experience of more than 30 beauty contests under her belt, Zainon Ismail, 60, was still overjoyed when she won the “best dressed” title at a special beauty pageant for mothers held at Plaza Pelangi here recently.

“I have been joining such competitions since before I was married and I never get tired of the experience,” she said.

She had won five different titles over the past three decades.

The grandmother of two said that she did not mind competing against younger contestants as it was all part of the fun.

Gorgeous mums: Syarifah (sitting) posing with the other contestants after she clinched the ‘Most Beautiful Mother’ title.

“Joining these competitions has become a hobby of mine. I enjoy dressing up and walking down the catwalk,” she said, adding that she planned to take part in several other beauty pageants this year.

Zainon, who was dressed in a gold sequinned Javanese-inspired outfit, said that she had not expected to walk away with a prize from the pageant for mothers but it was a nice addition to her experience.

Meanwhile, winner of the competition, Syarifah Abdul Jalil, 35, said that she was happy to be crowned the “Most Beautiful Mother.”

“I am so lucky to have been a part of a group of gorgeous mothers and truly believe that all of us have won because we dared to take part in this contest,” said the mother of three.

She said that she had only joined the competition to accompany a couple of her friends who wanted to participate, and was truly surprised to have won the title.

Pretty ladies in a row: The contestants displaying their best outifts at the pageant.

“This is the first time that I have joined such a big competition and I will cherish all the moments that I shared with the other contestants today,” she said.

Syarifah won RM2,000 worth of jewellery and discount vouchers from food and clothing outlets in Plaza Pelangi.

The competition also crowned winners for several sub categories including Mrs Catwalk, Mrs Costume and Mrs Figure.

Over 56 local contestants donned various traditional outfits from the Malay, Indonesian, Jawanese, Sabahan, Sarawakian, Indian and Chinese cultures.