A look into international beauty pageant Mr and Miss Celebrity International
All eyes were on two of Bangladesh’s most talented models, Efa Tabassum and Ronie Imran as they represented the country in the international beauty pageant Mr and Miss Celebrity International. In fact, Efa made it to the top ten round of the pageant.
According to International Celebrity Pageants Group and Enterprise, the main objective of this competition was to find models who have the potential to become influential stars who can represent Asia on both local and international platforms.
Sixty participants from 29 countries participated in this pageant, the finale of which was held on May 1, 2023, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event serves as a promotional platform for Malaysia’s tourism industry and is organised by International Celebrity Pageants Group Enterprise.
According to International Celebrity Pageants Group and Enterprise, the main objective of this competition was to find models who have the potential to become influential stars who can represent Asia on both local and international platforms. In line with this vision, throughout the competition, professional trainers had been appointed to train the contestants in several subjects that they would need in order to become these fashion icons, such as etiquette. The event organisers firmly believe that beauty is not limited to physical features, but has to do with a person’s character and heart, which is why the competition aims to spread positive influence in society, inspire others, and participate in a wide range of social activities.
Serving as country director for four counties – Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, is renowned model and choreographer, Azra Mahmood. The judge’s panel comprised of 2018 Miss Myanmar, Han Thi, 2018 Miss Universe Cambodia, Parn Nhat, 2018 Mr Glober Thailand, Jirawat Vatchasakal, Asia’s top model Amber Chia and 2014 Thailand’s Miss Model of the World, Ananya Beipharn, as well as Shirin Akhter Shela, Miss Universe Bangladesh 2019 and Azra’s student from her second batch at her institute, Azra Mahmood Talent Camp.
Shela, Miss Universe Bangladesh 2019 was also on the judging panel. She is Azra’s student from her second batch at her institute, Azra Mahmood Talent Camp.
Azra has been working in the fashion industry for over two decades and has always wanted to take the Bangladeshi fashion industry to international standards. While in recent times there have been some international standard fashion shows, the same cannot be said when it comes to pageantry. Through her institution, Azra Mahmood Talent Camp, Azra got introduced to people in the pageantry world, including Leonard Tan, owner of the Mr and Miss Celebrity pageant. Until this year, this pageant had been a local Malaysian event, but this year, they made the pageant international.
From the countries Azra represents, Aishwaria and Subankar represented India, Nafisa and Rasendra represented Nepal, and Efa and Ronie represented Bangaldesh. Unfortunately, she was unable to send any models from Sri Lanka. Azra selected Efa and Roni herself because she believed that they would do well and be able to represent their country well on the international stage. She believes that it is a great achievement and a matter of pride that Efa was in the top ten, and that Shela was the judge on such a prestigious international platform. She believes that, over time, Bangladeshi models will be able to go even further on the international platform.
AZRA MAHMOOD
Country Director
Mr. and Miss Celebrity International
Photographs: Courtesy of Azra Mahmood’s Talent Camp