Francisca Luhong James competed against 17 other Miss Universe Malaysia 2020 candidates at Kota Damansara in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia on September 5, 2020. She won the title.
Runner-up to James was Charissa Chong of Selangor. The respective second and third runners-up were Serene Chai of Johor and Neha Verma of Kuala Lumpur.
Miss Universe Malaysia 2022
In 2021, James was not able to crown her successor amid the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On October 7, 2022, she will crown her successor at the M Resort and Hotel Damansara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Hansen Lee will host the coronation ceremony. It marks the 55th edition of the national beauty pageant that selects Malaysia’s Miss Universe candidate.
There are 15 women competing for the Miss Universe Malaysia 2022 crown. If facial beauty is the only criterion, these will be my Top 5 candidates:
5. Annatasha Shanty Jeremiah, 25, Penampang
4. Buganna S. Saravana Kumar, 24, Melaka
3. Kasshvini Mathuraiveran, 26, Selangor
2. Thevambbikai G.K. Kasinathan, 27, Selangor
1. Joann Tiong Hau Ping, 21, Kuching
Currently, Malaysia has one Miss Universe placement. Representing the Southeast Asian country, Josephine Lena Wong Jaw Leng finished in the Top 15 in 1970.
On May 16, 2021, James represented Malaysia at Miss Universe 2020 and competed against 73 other candidates at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Broward County, Florida, United States. She was unplaced.
James is the first Malaysian woman with full native heritage to win Miss Universe Malaysia. She was born to James Mering Bungan and Pauline Japok in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Francisca is of Kayan, Kenyah and Iban descent. From 2015 to 2018, she attended Universiti Teknologi MARA in Shah Alam, Selangor where she earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communication majoring in public relations.
CONAN Daily 