
All winners : (From Left : Asal, Samira, Joanna, Elyssa)
VIMA Model Awards recently announced the main winners of the Model Of The Year Award at a microawards ceremony hosted by In Colonial@Intermark Ampang.
Facebook LIVE Video of Winnners speech:
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fvimamodelawards%2Fvideos%2F998208736950220%2F&show_text=0&width=400
The VIMA MODEL OF THE YEAR award was presented to Samira Siadatan of Iran, with Elyssa Choy and Joanna Joseph coming in as 1st Runner Up and 2nd Runner up respectively.
http://www.facebook.com/vimamodelawards
In attendance were the organizers and sponsors of the Model Awards platform
Regalo Fashion : Julian Fernandez & Ravinder Singh
Lakaran Alam : Suhaimi Sulaiman, Managing Director
Change Starts With Me : Rohn Rajan & Kanagam Ramanujam
In Colonial : Liz Wong
Organizers : Rekha Menon, Nancy and Siva “Zaphod” Chandran
Samira won a VIMA crystal award and a HOOPS Jolie Gold series watch sponsored by Regalo Fashion as well as a Personal Branding & Spokesperson training by Suhaimi Sulaiman.
First Runner-up Elyssa Angelica Choy received a VIMA Crystal Award and HOOPS ICON Flowers Series watch from Regalo Fashion
2nd Runner-up Joanna Joseph received a VIMA Crystal Award and HOOPS Cherie Noir Series watch
Both models will also be able to attend the Personal Branding & Spokesperson training by Suhaimi Sulaiman.
VIMA team shared:
“The whole idea behind VIMA Model Awards was to create role models beyond looks and glamour, focusing more on models who are confident, strong minded and independent. We wanted to make women aware that self respect, confidence and various skills are what adds to a beautiful personality. And we are glad to see a great deal of positive transformation in our girls. We hope that these girls can go out there to influence many other women in a similar way. And that’s what VIMA Models is all about – unfolding beautiful role models who can reach out and help transform others.”
All finalists were selected based on a process of evaluation that looked into their skills and abilities to undertake many tasks over 4 rounds in the competition including Communication, Presentation, Grooming, Intelligence, Social Media engagement, Talent and Personality.

VIMA Team with Winners (from left : Siva, Nancy, Asal, Joanna, Samira, Elyssa, Rekha)
Besides the main Model of The Year Award, two other subsidiary awards were also presented during the awards ceremony.
Regalo Fashion Presented the ICON INSPIRATION Award ( a HOOPS ICON series watch) to Joanna Joseph for her amazing transformation from a teenager bullied in school to a beauty queen and model.
Regalo Fashion shared:
“Regalo Fashion are proud to have been associated with all the winners of this year’s VIMA Model of the Year Awards through our role as award sponsors. Having met the finalists personally, further strengthens our confidence that they will go on to do great things not just in their careers but in the causes that they represent. We at Regalo champion strong women having been brought up by strong women ourselves and are glad that the mantle is in good hands.”
Regalo Fashion are the Exclusive Distributors of;
1. HOOPS Watches & Accessories (Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei)
2. Elliot Havok Watches & Accessories (Malaysia)
Online store : regalo-style.myshopify.com
Another subsidiary award presented was the Change Starts With Me Award to Asal Salikhova from Uzbekistan for her amazing efforts to raise funds for the Fight For Alice Campaign.
Kanagam Ramanujam had this to share:
“Congratulations to the lovely winners. Each one of them represent how dreams can become reality with a little help towards their empowerment. A gentle hand to guide them to change their attitudes, confidence levels and an to be open to the idea of new possibilities. Although this may be a ‘model’ finding project, it touched the essence of empowerment at its very core – that ‘change starts with me’.
Everyone who truly believes that ‘change starts with me’ is a role model because that is the fundamental of a positive belief system. From here, the road to excelling in whatever is undertaken will be achieved with smarts, caring and love for all! To Siva, Rekha, Nancy and their team, my heartiest congratulations to a job well done! Cheers to more such endeavors.”
VIMA Model Awards Judge ,Suhaimi Sulaiman, Managing Director of Lakaran Alam shared:
“With the exposure, the girls can now create a new space and own the space and position themselves as influencers in that space. They need to use the social media wisely to influence others on the cause close to their hearts which will also help their own communities. An effective and influential spokesmodel — this is one way to sustain and prolong their “shelf life” in the industry.”
“It was truly an enchanting afternoon hosting the beautiful VIMA models. I was truly impressed with what the organizers had achieved with these girls. The organizers truly have hearts of gold to have reached out in developing social skills among the young and talented ladies. In Colonial is honoured to have been given a chance to be a part of this awesome prize giving event.”
Find out more about In Colonial at
http://www.incolonial.com.my/
https://www.facebook.com/pg/incolonial
Video
AWARD WINNERS ROLL CALL:
Salikhova Asal : CHANGE STARTS WITH ME AWARD
Samira : ESPRIT AWARD- CREATIVE INTELLIGENCE
Sophia : FIORIS AWARD (Best Presenter & Communicator)
Face of The Year : Tshoki (Bhutan)
Vox Populi : Mary (Philippines)
Other Sponsors and supporters include
Glory Beach Resort (Round 3), Pullman Putrajaya (Round 4), Narayana Tea Stall (Meet The Models Lunch), Astro VBuzz, Laundry@The Curve, Hive Asia and Rentak Sejuta, photographers Sanjay Signature and Chandra Segaran