Jauwadee Bun Chea wins Miss Malaysia Tourism 2026 in Ipoh, earning RM5,000 and a scholarship, and will represent Malaysia in the Philippines in December
IPOH: Jauwadee Bun Chea was crowned Miss Malaysia Tourism 2026 at the national grand final held at Kinta Riverfront Hotel here on Saturday night.
The 24-year-old received a cash prize of RM5,000, a crown, sash and trophy, a Quest International University scholarship worth RM50,000, and a Bintang Galeria jewellery set worth RM8,800. She will also represent Malaysia at the 29th Miss Tourism International 2026 World Final in the Philippines in December.
Jauwadee will serve as a tourism ambassador, showcasing Malaysia’s cultural heritage, tourism attractions and hospitality to an international audience.
The pageant, held under the theme ‘Beauty Exploration: Discover the Heritage Adventure of Promising Perak’, also aimed to promote Perak as a destination for heritage, cultural and eco-tourism.
Organised by Timah Heritage Sdn Bhd through its Timah Explorer brand, the pageant brought together 15 finalists from across Malaysia to compete for three national titles, namely Miss Malaysia Tourism 2026, Miss Malaysia Tourism Queen of the Year 2026 and Miss Malaysia Tourism Metropolitan 2026.
Throughout the pageant week from Oct 7-18, the finalists participated in heritage exploration activities in Ipoh, culinary experiences featuring Perak’s signature delicacies, ecotourism adventures in Kuala Sepetang, cultural showcases and community initiatives.
Deputy Speaker of the Perak State Legislative Assembly Jenny Choy Tsi Jen, who represented State Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Committee chairman Loh Sze Yee, said the theme aimed to showcase Perak’s unique identity and promote the state as a destination for heritage, culture and tourism.
She said Malaysia’s multicultural heritage, diverse traditions and harmonious society are among the country’s unique attractions.
“Malaysia’s multicultural heritage, colourful traditions and harmonious society make our country truly special, giving visitors from around the world many reasons to discover and experience this beautiful country,” she said in her speech at the Miss Malaysia Tourism Pageant 2026.
Choy added that the pageant also provided finalists with opportunities to explore Malaysia’s diverse destinations, appreciate its cultural heritage and experience the warmth and hospitality of its people.
More importantly, she said the pageant served as a gateway to the international stage, with the three national titleholders representing Malaysia at their respective world finals.