Judy Wong never imagined herself strutting in six-inch heels on a beauty pageant stage, especially after a debilitating ankle injury during her college basketball days. As a corporate professional, Judy’s daily footwear is a pair of flats or a modest one-inch heel. Yet, fate had other plans and at 48, she found herself in a world where grace and glamor reigns supreme.
“I had to borrow a pair of heels to go for the audition because I didn’t have any!” said Judy with a laugh.
Judy, a first-time participant in a beauty pageant, is the first runner-up of the Classic Mrs Malaysia International Global and Mrs Charity Queen Malaysia.
“The experience was exhilarating, rewarding and overwhelming. The training was tiring, and of course painful to walk in heels for hours but worth it because it reminded me of what is important as a woman.
“It is about being aware of our own strengths and weaknesses, and to use that to our advantage,” said the.
Judy suffered from postpartum depression after giving birth to her youngest daughter and experienced a relapse of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Around the same time, her husband asked for a divorce.
“When I had a divorce, it crushed me; and joining the pageant helped to rebuild my confidence,” said the mother of two.
The opportunity to contest in a pageant was also a stroke of luck as Judy had initially missed the first audition date.
“I was scrolling through social media and another advertisement on the pageant popped up saying that there is a second chance for an audition. I happened to be on leave so I went to try out,” said the Petaling Jaya-native.
Little did Judy know that this would be the start of an arduous journey of four months and she would end up being one of the winners.
“I went in without thinking of winning. It was all about pushing forward and taking each step as it came.
“Midway through I thought of quitting because there were some encounters with toxic competitors, and I found myself questioning why I subjected myself to such negativity,” said Judy who was one of the 14 finalists at the pageant.
The pageant came at an extremely demanding juncture for Judy as it coincided with her busiest period as a human resources manager. Balancing work responsibilities with the needs of her teenage daughters added weight on Judy’s shoulders.
“For the first time in life, I felt overwhelmed by the demands of life. There were too many responsibilities and I underestimated the amount of time and energy that was required to be in this pageant; but I knew that if I put my mind to a goal, I would achieve it so I took it on,” said Judy.
One of the most memorable moments for Judy came when her youngest daughter snapped a photo with her on the night of the pageant’s final and shared it on social media.
“My daughter had never posted any photo with me on her social media, but that night seeing me on stage in heels and evening gown, and later in the fancy Borneo attire, surrounded by my friends who were cheering, they were filled with excitement and surprise.
“I don’t think they fully understood what joining a pageant meant. They saw how busy I was but it had not sunk in that this was such a grand affair, so that (her action) was really sweet,” added Judy.
As with any other woman joining a pageant, Judy’s friends suggested she shed some weight, which she achieved by adopting a mindful approach to her diet.
“I’ve never subscribed to extreme diets. I know I am taller and bigger than the average woman but I am never ashamed of my body. I have always worked out, running half marathons and I know what kind of outfit would accentuate my figure,” said Judy confidently.
As part of the pageant preparation, contestants received comprehensive training on pageantry etiquette and attended classes for catwalk. They were also tasked with selecting a social cause to champion and raise funds for an NGO.
Judy chose to advocate for mental health among children and secured the highest amount of donations for the NGO.
“I used to run programmes for underprivileged children and from my own experience with a therapist, I know how important it is to address mental health issues early on. By focusing on children’s mental well-being, we may not have so many adults who are struggling with mental health,” added Judy.
Reflecting on her journey, Judy said the biggest lesson she learned was the importance of slowing down in life.
“I never had a pause in my life from the moment I started work at 19. Later I had children, and there was so much time spent with them that I forgot about people and things around me. When the children grew up, I had my career and charity work.
“The pageant taught me to pause, and to spend time with myself,” she said. – Christine Cheah
All images credit Judy Wong
