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Mrs Malaysia to hold charity ball

By FAZLEENA AZIZ

Beatrice Nirmala still finds it hard to believe sometimes that she has been crowned Mrs Malaysia 2007. 

“I was the biggest in size among the other contestants and was the only Indian, too,” said the 38-year-old mother of two who also happens to be managing editor of a lifestyle magazine called Passion. 

Furthermore, she said, she had never taken part in beauty pageants before and was therefore totally alien to the preparation involved. 

“A friend had suggested that I take part in the contest and before I knew it I had been short-listed for the grand finals. 

Kind-hearted beauty: Beatrice hopes to raise RM100,000 for the IJN Foundation.

“I got the jitters just looking at the other girls,” she recalled. 

Not being one who gives up easily, Beatrice hit the gym to slim down and get the curves in the right places in time for the finals. 

Thankfully, she said, she was also taught how to walk, how to be poised, graceful and even how to smile.  

“I was calm when my name was announced as the winner. It was a defining moment of what I can achieve if I just believe in myself enough to want to make it,” she said. 

Even so, Beatrice said, she still had the jitters when she represented Malaysia in the Mrs World Pageant 2007 in Moscow, Russia, early this year. 

With beauty comes purpose, and Beatrice felt an urge to do more after being crowned Mrs Malaysia.  

“I had met with someone from the National Heart Institute (IJN) Foundation, who asked if the magazine would like to raise funds. Since Passion always organise a lot of balls, I thought it would be a great opportunity to hold the Passions Royal Charity Ball.  

“The ball will be held at the Palace at the Golden Horses on Nov 30 to raise money for needy IJN patients. We hope to raise a minimum of RM100,000 from the event. Top 10 art pieces from the Passions International Art Gallery will be put on auction.  

»I was the biggest in size among the other contestants and was the only Indian, too« BEATRICE NIRMALA

“It was quite difficult as first because, we had always invited people for our functions and now we are asking them to buy tables and contribute donations. 

“The magazine’s is read by a lot of the well-heeled and we hope to show them the loneliness and hardship faced by the less fortunate patients at the wards through a documentary video, which we will play at the event.  

“I also thought it would be exciting to have the other recent participants of the Mrs World 2007 pageant to attend the function. I managed to get 13 of them, who will be doing some activities here with the sponsors as well being part of the charity ball.  

“We plan to sing Heal the World by Michael Jackson on top of the fashion show at the event,” said Beatrice. 

She hopes to turn the charity ball into an annual event and to make other charitable organisations especially orphanages as beneficiaries. 

Among the VIPS who are expected to attend the Passions Royal Charity Ball are Sultanah of Pahang Sultanah Khalsom and wife of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.  

Table prices range between RM3,000 and RM10,000. For details, call 03-7729 4886. 

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