Malaysian Beauty Queen Relinquishes Crown Over “Inappropriate” Actions While On Thailand Vacation

A Malaysian beauty queen has willingly stepped down from her throne.

Last 2023, Viru Nikah Terinsip won the annual Unduk Ngadau Johor pageant.

Just a few months later, she was under fire for a now-deleted video posted on TikTok. It showed her vacationing in Thailand, dancing with scantily clad men.

She visited the viral Staneemeehoi restaurant where lingerie-wearing men get up close and personal while dancing with diners.

Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, the president of the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), made it known that he wanted her to be stripped off her title. He stated that her behavior did not align with the values expected of an Unduk Ngadau titleholder. The pageant, after all, traditionally honors Huminodun, a figure from Dusun mythology known for nobility and grace.

Such behavior is unacceptable for a beauty queen who represents the spirit of Huminodun. This would not be an issue if Viru was an ordinary person. There were a lot of mixed reactions, some saw humor in her video, some sympathized, others were unhappy and complained. We [KDCA] do not want to be the target and attract unnecessary attention.

— Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan

Joseph added that the backlash Viru faced should act as a warning to future pageant winners to watch their public behavior.

This incident should serve as a warning to all winners of the cultural beauty pageant not to repeat the same mistake.

— Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan

On April 8, Viru announced that she was willingly relinquishing her crown. She emphasized that it was her choice and she was doing so “without coercion.”

I joined the Unduk Ngadau competition by my own will and will now return the title without coercion. I respect my decision and the title is not everything. It is about believing and valuing myself.

— Viru Nikah Terinsip

[Video could not be displayed]

She apologized, saying that she is aware that she is “not perfect.” Though it was not an ideal conclusion, she understood that being a pageant winner is not the true meaning of “perfection or success.”

The title does not determine one’s perfection or success.

— Viru Nikah Terinsip