KUALA LUMPUR: Nine-year-old Qaisyah Khairunnisa Syahlil from Sabah has won the inaugural SirapLimau Pentas Little Star competition with 200,889 votes.
The competition featured 20 contestants and recorded 497,087 votes from 23,685 voters, reflecting strong public support for the young talents.
Four other contestants received consolation prizes based on their votes. They were Amatullah Hamidah with 191,022 votes, Naufa Azween with 66,462 votes, Nur Khayla Azzahra with 55,250 votes and Puteri Azalia with 23,420 votes.
PURSUING HER SINGING DREAMS
For Qaisyah, the victory marks a step towards achieving her singing ambitions.
"I am very happy to have achieved one of my dreams, which is winning this competition.
"Following this victory, I hope to follow in the footsteps of my older sister, Kak Qahirah, who previously represented Malaysia at the World Championship of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, the United States.
"I also dream of winning the upcoming state-level Pertandingan Sugandoi Dazanak in Sabah. In addition, I hope to become a skilled and knowledgeable singer one day and continue developing my singing talent," she said.
Her mother, Shanty Jaunan, said the competition had been a meaningful experience, particularly as she had witnessed her daughter's determination to fulfil her dream.
"Initially, I admit that it was difficult to imagine Qaisyah winning this competition, as the Top 20 contestants also included performers already familiar to audiences in the entertainment industry, such as Azalia and Cinta Suci.
"However, seeing Qaisyah's determination to win, we as parents have remained committed to supporting her and doing our best to help her succeed," she said.
NURTURING YOUNG TALENT
Pentas Little Star campaign manager Siti Haidatina said the team hoped the competition would continue to provide a platform for discovering and showcasing young talent across Malaysia.
"We hope Pentas Little Star can continue to serve as a platform to discover and showcase more young talent in Malaysia.
"Through this inaugural season, we have witnessed how many children possess extraordinary abilities and the potential to go further when given the right opportunities and guidance.
"We also hope this competition will serve as a starting point for their journeys in their chosen fields, whether in singing, acting or other areas.
"May the enthusiasm shown by every contestant throughout the competition continue to inspire them to develop their talents and pursue their dreams," she said.
SirapLimau said it hoped to continue supporting young talent through initiatives that encourage children to express their creativity, build confidence and discover their potential.
For more information about Pentas Little Star, visit SirapLimau's official website.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd