This year Unduk Ngadau 2012 Winner is from Telupid, Sabah. Melinda Louis is also this year's Harvest Queen where she beat 40 other contestants at the finals which were held at the KDCA Hall in Penampang, Sabah.
Melinda will carry out her role as 'huminodun' and tourism ambassador for Sabah which is part of the title. She also takes home a total of RM68,600 in prizes and cash. Not only that, the title of Tati Topiodo or Miss Natural Beauty was also won by Melinda Louis from Telupid.
The Unduk Ngadau 2012 Contestants were also between the ages of 18 to 24 years old. It was also a surprise that the beauty queen from Telipud won the title as many did not expect this district to win.
Below are the 2012 Unduk Ngadau Winners; - Melinda Louis from Telupid (WINNER)
- Fenney Doimis from Kota Kinabalu (KK)
- Meryl Foster Paladius from Tambunan
- Vanessa Samantha Manih from Tanjung Aru
- Samantha Sharon C.E. Laujang from Penampang
- Milviana Madrigal from Kota Belud
- Raemma Justim from Tuaran
A total of 41 contestants from all over Sabah went on stage at
Hongkod Koisaan (KDCA) on the 31st May, to vie for the Unduk Ngadau 2012
or Harvest Queen title in their respective traditional costumes.
You can also read last year's story on the Unduk Ngadau 2011 Winner.
You can also read last year's story on the Unduk Ngadau 2011 Winner.
One of the most recognizable cultural events in Sabah, the Unduk Ngadau Pageant is very unique here. The title comes from the ethnic word Runduk Tadau which means 'the girl crowned by sunlight'.
The Unduk Ngadau beauty contest was started to pay respect to Huminodun who is the sacrificed daughter of the Kadazandusun spirits Kinorohingan and Suminodun.
It is believed that she was the one who taught the priestesses, known as locally as Bobohizans their ritual mantras which exist today.
The Unduk Ngadau beauty contest was started to pay respect to Huminodun who is the sacrificed daughter of the Kadazandusun spirits Kinorohingan and Suminodun.
It is believed that she was the one who taught the priestesses, known as locally as Bobohizans their ritual mantras which exist today.
Inside the KDCA Hall in Penanpang
Conclusion
Kaamatan or Harvest Festival is Sabah is an annual cultural observation of the Kadazandusun people to celebrate a bountiful paddy harvest. Every year, contestants are selected in the state-level pageants and there will be one winner for their district's pageant.
However, some districts hold joint pageants which produce more than one state-level contestant. After the district level, each of the finalists then moves on to the state-level pageant which is held on the 31st of May each year at the Hongkod Koisaan building or KDCA in Penampang, Kota Kinabalu.
This is the main highlight and ending point for the month-long Kaamatan celebrations. Once again, congratulations to Melinda Louis from Telupid for being crowned Unduk Ngadau 2012 Winner.