PENAMPANG: Sandakan’s Frenerietta Sobitun, was crowned State Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2022, at the Hongkod Koisaan KDCA Hall, Penampang, Tuesday.
The 25-year-old teacher at SK Sungai Sungai brought home more than RM120,000 worth of prizes, including RM12,000 cash, a crown and a trophy.
“This victory means so much to me as I did not expect to gain this title.
“This is a gift for my family,” she told reporters after the crowning ceremony.
Frenerietta said she plans to engage in community work with government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to help Sabahan youths during her reign.
“(The purpose) is so that youths can sow a greater love for our culture and heritage.
“My hope is that youths will always be brave and continue to speak in the native Kadazan Dusun Murut languages so that it doesn’t become lost in the face of modernisation and technology,” she said.
Among the challenges she faced was juggling her time between preparing for the pageant and running her duties as a teacher.
During the finals‘ first round, all 44 contestants were judged on their beauty, costume and attitude before 15 of them advanced to the second.
In the next round, the 15 finalists were required to answer a question in their native languages, before seven of them were shortlisted for the last round.
The top seven beauties were given the freedom to answer the questions in their mother tongues or Malay or English.
Frenerietta, who donned the traditional Dusun Labuk attire, answered confidently in her mother tongue.
Esther Marius who represented Papar was placed second and received RM75,319 worth of prizes while Deedee Cassandra Dallius (Ranau) grabbed third place, pocketing RM62,779 worth of prizes.
