Melaka CM is making up for the ugly side to a beauty pageant
NATION
Friday, 16 Feb 2018
by r.s.n. murali
MELAKA: Miss Great Britain’s alleged humiliation during a beauty pageant here last month has gotten the attention of the Chief Minister.
Datuk Seri Idris Haron is inviting Saffron Hart to be crowned Tourism Ambassador for Melaka to Europe.
Hart’s ordeal over the alleged unprofessional hosting of Miss Tourism World 2018 pageant was highlighted by Britain’s Daily Mail on Feb 10.
She claimed that she was selected as one of five contestants to vie for the top prize at the Jan 27 finals.
image: https://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/online/2018/02/15/19/08/main_p12b_gerijah_11.ashx?h=567&w=400&la=en
Silver lining: Hart has been invited by Idris to be crowned Tourism Ambassador for Melaka to Europe.
The Daily Mail reported that Hart and three other finalists were then disqualified due to a technical hitch that led to the finals being scrapped and restarted.
Hitting out at the bungled hosting of the pageant, Idris said Melaka was ready to award the title to the 27-year-old Har
“The organiser hosted the event privately, so it has nothing to do with the state government.
“At the end of the day, they (organiser) smeared the reputation of Melaka and even the country with their dodgy arrangement,” he said at Seri Negeri here.
Idris said he felt sorry for Hart who spent her own money to come all the way to Melaka to take part in the contest. “How could the organiser do this to her?
“Anyone would end up being disappointed when their sash is revoked and awarded to another person in such a sloppy arrangement,” he said.
Idris said the state government has been working hard to lure more than 17 million tourist arrivals to Melaka this year.
“We don’t need such unfavourable media coverage when we are striving to make Melaka a haven for tourism and investment,” he said.
Idris said the state hoped to crown Hart with the title although Melaka didn’t encourage such pageants to be held here.
Bayou Lagoon Park Resort managing director Datuk Marco Seow said he would sponsor the accommodation for Hart and her accompanying family members and friends.
“They can stay at my resort for as long as they wish,” he said.
Seow said news about Hart’s plight could turn off European tourists from coming to Melaka.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/02/16/melaka-cm-is-making-up-for-the-ugly-side-to-a-beauty-pageant/#UoSK1J81ZF2sCxeD.99
DAILY MAIL STORY
EXCLUSIVE: 'What a farce' - Miss GB slams Malaysian beauty pageant after winning a place in the final only for the results to be scrapped and she was replaced by... Miss Malaysia!
- The pageant turned to farce when the final was scrapped and restarted again
- Saffron Hart, Miss GB, was initially selected and then missed out second time
- Slamming the 'appalling' process, she says she has been put off pageants for life
- Questions were raised about the competition after Miss Malaysia was selected
- Audience members allegedly heard a row between the sponsors and organisers
s
Saffron Hart was one of five girls selected for the top prize at Miss Tourism World in Malacca when the final was scrapped and started again
Miss Great Britain has told of her disgust after she was chosen as a finalist in a 'farcical' Malaysian beauty pageant – only to be replaced by the home talent.
Saffron Hart was one of five girls selected for the top prize at Miss Tourism World in Malacca when the final was scrapped and started again.
The official reason given was that there had been a technical hitch in adding up the judge's points, meaning three of the original finalists - including Saffron - did not make it through to the rebooted final.
However several members of the audience, including Saffron's mum, claim they saw a row between the sponsors and organisers of Miss Tourism World.
Saffron told MailOnline: 'I'm no sore loser. I'm just disgusted that we were all treated so appallingly. This has put me off beauty pageants for life.'
Miss Great Britain has told of her disgust after she was chosen as a finalist in a 'farcical' Malaysian beauty pageant – only to be replaced by the home talent
Half of the girls refused to return to the stage when Miss Colombia was eventually crowned Miss Tourism World 2018. Saffron (centre) beamed as she chosen as one of five woman initially selected for the final
Half of the girls refused to return to the stage when Miss Colombia was eventually crowned Miss Tourism World 2018 - by embarrassed presenters and in front of a stunned audience.
Saffron, 27, from Hull, told MailOnline: 'I was so in shock that I couldn't believe that this farce was happening.
'The other girls were more outraged than I was. Everybody was so embarrassed. People were crying.
'My mum, my step dad and I had spent £7,000 and we'd all taken three weeks off work to travel to the other side of the world for a contest where we'd get to experience different cultures.
'But instead all I did was rehearse all day and night and on my limited time off tour building sites that the sponsor was promoting.'
The model, hair dresser, salon owner and nutrition business entrepreneur – who's been competing in beauty pageants for two years - was invited to take part in the all travel expenses paid event as her prize for being crowned Miss GB in September last year.
As part of the final process, Saffron was asked a question about tourism which she had to answer in front of the judges and live audience
In the re-run of the final, Saffron was replaced by Miss Malaysia (third from right in the silver dress)
The presenters of the Miss Tourism pageant caused shock among the contestants when they announced the final would need to be re-run
She spent £3,000 on outfits need for the competition while her proud parents, social worker Louise, 50, and trucker Alan Atwill, 47, spent £4,000 on flying out to join her in the Melaka beach resort last month.
But when they arrived Saffron was rehearsing for the event daily until as late as 5am, perfecting routines including a complex dance number for the show.
Her only free time was spent being taken around all the developments being managed by the sponsor, Kerjaya Prospek – the firm which built the Swiss Garden Hotel they all stayed in.
Saffron continued: 'I didn't mind all the work and the tours. I was just really excited to be representing Great Britain at this global event.
'Then I made the line-up for the final five. I was delighted!'
The girls were invited to talk on stage while someone waited backstage with sashes to present to them all.
Then the presenters claimed there'd been a technical error and that they would be recalling the finalists again.
Saffron (pictured before leaving for the pageant) said: 'The Miss Tourism World team didn't even acknowledge us girls afterwards, never mind apologise. And I flew home with one of them two days later'
Saffron, from Hull, told MailOnline: 'I'm no sore loser. I'm just disgusted that we were all treated so appallingly. This has put me off beauty pageants for life'
Saffron said: 'They left us standing on stage for 20 minutes before myself, Miss Panama and Miss Venezuela didn't make the re-count, and we all went off stage.
'Only 18 girls went back on stage when the winner was eventually crowned, including myself. But it wasn't the winner Miss Colombia's fault!
'The Miss Tourism World team didn't even acknowledge us girls afterwards, never mind apologise. And I flew home with one of them two days later.'
Her mum Louise added: 'I've been shocked, disgusted and in utter disbelief. How can they treat Miss GB like this?
'The number of people who expressed their disgust and sympathy, even the organiser's staff, spoke volumes.
'It was so amateur and unprofessional. What an embarrassment!'
Saffron said: 'They left us standing on stage for 20 minutes before myself, Miss Panama and Miss Venezuela (above) didn't make the re-count, and we all went off stage'
Giorgiana Rosas, (above) who competed as Miss Venezuela and was similarly removed from the final, said she burst into tears when the competition was recalled
Giorgiana said she was disappointed as beauty pageants were part of her national culture
Giorgiana Rosas, who competed as Miss Venezuela and was similarly removed from the final, said she burst into tears when the competition was recalled.
The 18-year-old told MailOnline:‘I felt publicly humiliated because beauty pageants are part of our national culture and this left my whole family in floods of tears.
'It was ridiculous and unfair.’
A Miss GB spokeswoman said: 'A Miss Tourism World statement has explained that there was a technical glitch in the computer involving one of the judge's scores not being recorded correctly.
'They had an immediate manual check and the re-count of the top five at their grand final on 27th January.
A Miss GB spokeswoman said: 'We're saddened on Saffron's behalf that she hasn't received a personal explanation or apology'
'We're incredibly proud of Saffron and how she represented the Miss GB brand in Malaysia.
'We're saddened on Saffron's behalf that she hasn't received a personal explanation or apology.
'Saffron is a smart, funny and beautiful lady whom we hold in very high regard and we hope the remainder of her reign brings great opportunities and memories because this is what she truly deserves.'
Miss Tourism World has refused to respond to a MailOnline request for a comment.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5345473/Miss-GB-slams-farcical-Malaysian-beauty-pageant.html#ixzz57FOL9xa8
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
