STARBUCKS ‘FLY ME TO PARIS’ CONTEST GRAND PRIZE WINNER WINS A TRIP TO THE CITY OF LOVE

Starbucks Malaysia unveiled the long- awaited lucky winner of their highly-anticipated 'Fly Me to Paris' contest. 

Puan Fasihah Binti Mohd Jaslan emerged as the fortunate recipient of an extraordinary seven-day, four-night journey to the captivating city of Paris, France, accompanied by a beloved companion. And what’s more, as an additional delightful surprise, they will also be receiving a pre-loaded Starbucks card worth RM500, which is sure to enhance their memorable Starbucks experience. 

This incredible outcome is undeniably a life-changing opportunity that will create cherished memories for years to come.

The second prize winner received a delightful three-day, two-night getaway for two at The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort, complemented by a RM400 pre-loaded Starbucks card. And similarly, the third prize winner was treated to an exquisite three-day, two-night retreat for two at the luxurious Berjaya Langkawi Resort, as well as a RM300 pre-loaded Starbucks card.

The celebration continued with five deserving runner-up winners who were awarded a RM200 pre-loaded Starbucks card, allowing them to savor their favorite Starbucks delights while also receiving Starbucks merchandise worth up to RM500. 

100 consolation prize winners were selected and surprised with Starbucks merchandise worth up to RM100, ensuring that the spirit of appreciation reached far and wide.

"As we conclude the exciting 'Fly Me to Paris' contest, on behalf of Starbucks Malaysia, we are overwhelmed by the incredible enthusiasm and unwavering support demonstrated by our valued customers. This contest has truly showcased the magic of Starbucks Malaysia, where dreams take flight and extraordinary experiences come to life,” said Dato’ Sydney Quays, Group CEO of Berjaya Food Berhad and managing director of Starbucks Malaysia & Brunei. “We congratulate the winners on their well-deserved victory and wish them an unforgettable journey. To all the finalists and participants, your dedication and spirit have inspired us beyond measure. Also, a warm thank you goes to The Taaras Beach & Spa Resort and Berjaya Langkawi Resort for being part of this remarkable adventure as our hotel sponsors in Malaysia. May our collaborative efforts ignite a sense of possibility and adventure in travelers near and far,” added Dato’ Sydney.

In December 2022, Starbucks embarked on an exciting collaboration with MTV Entertainment Studios-produced EMILY IN PARIS, bringing an irresistible collection of trendy daily essentials to Starbucks® stores in Malaysia. Alongside this exclusive launch, Starbucks Malaysia introduced the captivating 'Fly Me to Paris' contest, offering their fortunate customers a chance to win extraordinary prizes valued at up to RM50,000. 

Participation in the contest was as simple as purchasing items from the Emily in Paris + Starbucks® collectible line during the contest period. Throughout the month-long campaign, participants were engaged with various questions, enhancing their chances to become the ultimate winners. 

To further elevate the experience, registered Starbucks Rewards members received double entries for each purchase made using their Starbucks Rewards card or app. 

The contest garnered an outstanding 2808 contest entries and it was a truly remarkable campaign that united fashion, culture, and the joy of Starbucks- captivating hearts and creating memorable moments for all.

"I'm incredibly grateful and honored to be the lucky winner of Starbucks Malaysia's 'Fly Me to Paris' contest. This journey to Paris is truly a dream come true, and I can't express how much it means to me,” said Puan Fasihah. “I'm immensely thankful for this amazing prize and the unforgettable memories it will create. A heartfelt thank you to Starbucks Malaysia for making my dream of visiting Paris a reality."

THE SEARCH FOR GUARDIAN’S ‘THE FACE OF HEALTHY BEAUTY’ IS BACK!

Guardian Malaysia has brought back the popular nationwide contest to search for The Face of Healthy Beauty (TFHB).

 

Angela Teo, Head of Marketing, Guardian Health and Beauty Sdn Bhd said: “Our first search for Guardian’s The Face of Healthy Beauty in 2019 was such a spectacular success in that we managed to find so many outstanding women in Malaysia that epitomize our vision of a healthy beauty.  Unfortunately, due to the pandemic we had to postpone doing another event until this year and we are very excited about it. The search for Guardian’s The Face of Healthy Beauty is NOT a beauty contest.  

 

“This campaign celebrates healthy beauty and encourages everyone to embrace their uniqueness both inside and out, their inner and outer physical beauty. The Healthy Beauty is an individual who is positive, dynamic, gentle yet passionate, fun, happy, loving, and inspiring with a confidence built from feeling good about themselves holistically.  They also want to inspire others to live a healthy and beautiful life, doing things that make them feel happy and fulfilling.”

 

Touted as the first-of-its-kind in Malaysia, the search for The Face of Healthy Beauty is a nationwide quest to find FOUR individuals, who best fit the bill as ‘The Face of Healthy Beauty’ to be Guardian’s healthy beauty ambassadors.

 

Teo explains that the Healthy Beauty concept is at the core of Guardian’s brand philosophy and that this concept was borne from a consumer insight that good health is the foundation of true beauty.

 

“We found out that our customers believe that true beauty comes from a healthy physical and mental state of being,” Teo said. “And this trend has also made Guardian evolve from being a health and beauty store into a brand with a mission to inspire our customers to live a healthy and beautiful life.  To achieve this mission, our sales staff have been trained to be beauty and health care advisors, while our stores continue to offer the latest and most innovative health and beauty products from around the world at the best value to our customers,” Teo added.

 

The Four (4) winners from the Grand Final will each receive:•One (1) year contract with Guardian•Feature on Guardian’s Catalogue Cover Page & Other sales materials• RM10,000 Cash and RM10,000 worth of Vouchers

•Products from participating sponsors and•RM5,000 worth of Guardian Bath Care products to a charity organisation of the winner's choice 

 

This contest is open to all Malaysians aged 18 years and above with entries to be submitted online from 26 June 2023 until 6 August 2023 at httpsq://theface.guardian.com.my or click on the QR code on all Guardian social media platforms and at Guardian stores. Participants need to upload a 30 second video of themselves indicating ‘Why they want to be The Face of Healthy Beauty?’ one full length photo and one passport photo of themselves. 

 

One hundred and twenty (120) shortlisted participants will be selected to attend the semi-finals at;

▪ Gurney Plaza, Penang (26-27 August 2023), 

▪ MyTOWN Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur (2-3 September 2023), 

▪ Paradigm Mall, Johor Bahru (9-10 September 2023) and 

▪ Vivacity Mall, Kuching Sarawak (16-17 September 2023). 

 

Five semi-finalists from each region will attend the Grand Finals in Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall in Petaling Jaya on 21 October 2023.

 

Guardian customers can also vote, from 18 September – 8 October 2023 on the microsite, for their favorite finalist to win at the Grand Finals.  The votes received for each finalist will contribute towards 40% of the total scores at the Grand Finals. 

 

For more info and details of the search, and the full terms and conditions check outhttps://theface.guardian.com.my. 

Montigo Archive Sale: Enjoy Up to 40% Off Malaysia's #1 Thermoregulated Drinkware

For the next -level hydration with insulation grab one of MONTiGO drinkware!!! They are made of high quality, A2 (food graded 304) stainless steel which is highly durable and resistant to rust. And the lids are made of PP (BPA plastic - Polypropylene), which are BPA-free and safe for daily usage.

And what I like best about MONTiGO drinkware is that they are designed with vacuum-sealed insulation to ensure your beverage remains contained and secured.

Absolutely loving my Ace Bottle Mega in Dark Blue which is perfect to hydrate on-the-go.

It is made with double-wall vacuum insulation to retain temperature, and a swappable cap design for any occasion.

My other favorite product would be the Metallic Knight's Tumbler in Pine Green.. 

Designed to be versatile in order for you to enjoy cold beverages wherever you are. From the condensation-free exterior to the spillproof flip lid - your cold drinks will feel right at home in this insulated tumbler.

In case you haven’t heard, now is your chance to grab one or two or more since MONTiGO, Malaysia's leading thermoregulated drinkware brand, has announce the Montigo Archive Sale, taking place throughout the month of June. 

Take this opportunity to indulge in the best deals on Montigo's premium drinkwares, renowned for keeping beverages hot or cold for extended periods at the optimum temperature.

During this limited-time sale, customers can enjoy discounts of up to 40% off on a wide range of selected favorites, hottest picks, and timeless classics. Whether you're a coffee enthusiast, tea lover, or someone who appreciates a refreshing cold beverage, Montigo's Archive Sale promises unbeatable deals that won't disappoint.

To take advantage of Montigo Archive Sale, customers can visit Montigo's official website or explore their offline stores. Elevate your drinking experience and don't miss out on the best deals of the season with Montigo. For more information and to browse their Archive Sale, visit https://shopmontigo.com/pages/special-promo 

Fun and Learning at Alam Flora’s Sustainability Hunt 2023

Alam Flora’s Sustainability Hunt which has been organised for the 2nd time since 2022 was practically one of the activities many of my friends and I were most excited about…

This is because Sustainability Hunt 2023 aims to encourage community participation in cultivating environmental conservation in daily life through education…

The general public, mainstream media, and social media community networks, including Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) comprising of social media influencers and bloggers, have been invited to participate in this annual program by Alam Flora Sdn. Bhd. (Alam Flora) to further the company's initiatives in conveying messages of environmental sustainability.

The Sustainability Hunt was held in the hopes that the transmission and sharing of this information will shape societies that embrace a more sustainable lifestyle for the benefit of the environment in the future…

Since its incorporation in 1995, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd (Alam Flora) has been one of the leading environmental management companies in Malaysia that is dedicated to serving communities in managing and reducing waste with minimal environmental impact. Alam Flora is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malakoff Corporation Berhad and provides comprehensive waste management services to several concession areas in certain regions of Peninsular Malaysia, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, and Pahang… 

So in the wee early morning over the weekend, my friends and I were gathered at the Fasiliti Inovasi Kitar Semula (FIKS) located at Precint 5 Putrajaya for the start of our hunt… we were divided into four groups to facilitate movement but judged individually according to the tasks given…


We were lucky to be in a group together with two amazing and wonderfully sporting Key Opinion Leaders Satthiya and Auntie Purple….

There were a total of five assignments, one which was a pre- assignment of Upcycling which everyone had to contribute in upcycling some used products.. and there were definitely a whole lot of interesting and fun ideas from everyone….

Assignment 1 was TRASH OR TREASURE which we were given five 'Treasure Items' questions about items at home that can be recycled and believe me it was definitely a tough question… it was in Bahasa Malaysia and we had a hard time trying to figure it out and decipher it….

Question 1 went like this : “Dulu di kampung2 memang budak-budak cari, 

Dapat 10 ke 15 biji barulah boleh jadi,

'Tembak' dengan bola atau selipar, lengkaplah sejenis permainan tradisi,

Bawakan juga dua yang sudah tiada isi.”

Question 2 was even more confusing and we had to decide between Express delivery packagings and boxes…..

“Pada 1.1, 6.6., 11.11, antara promosi yang biasa,

Dengan ini Rasanya anda sudah tahu apa maksudnya, Kami mahukan pembungkusnya, lagi banyak lagi kami suka, Baiklah, bila dua otak digabung, akan nampak jawapannya.”

Question 3 went like this…. “Ia tersedia dalam pelbagai saiz isipadu,

Dan memang terkenal sebagai pembungkus jus dan susu, Untuk 'protects what's good' kita diberitahu,

Sekarang bawakan dua yang kosong, 1 liter setiap satu.” And I guess it was the easiest to decipher since most of us know Tetrapaks promises to “Protects whats good”

Question 4 got most of us confused as some were trying to decide what was smaller then Tetrapaks and bigger then the answer the Question 5 before it hit us… lol

“Yang no. 3 lebih besar dari yang no. 4,

Tapi yang no 5 lagi kecil dari yang no 4,

Bawakan sekilo apa saja yang terpakai atau terlipat Markah penuh diberi kalau dapat”

Question 5 went like this, “Barang seterusnya mudah didapati di mana jua, Fungsinya penting untuk mengisi apa saja,

Polimer organik sintetikbahan utamanya,

Bawa apa sahaja terpakai, pelbagai bentuk untuk kita selamatkan dunia.” And so we decided it was plastic containers but what plastic… since question 4 got some of us confused at first too…..

But after brainstorming and all, we manage to get the answers and went on a hunt for the items which was not an easy task considering that some of my friends and I were on a Media Familiarisation trip… 

I bet I made a scene begging for Tetrapaks and juice bottles from the F&B team of the hotel I was staying at and they probably thought I had some screws loose… and when we headed to a mall, I had to humble myself and begged for some discarded cardboard boxes… and my friends and I helped dragged it back to the car… but it was a great experience nevertheless and in a way reminded me that these used items deserve a second chance, as the old saying goes, 'YOUR TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN'S TREASURE'.

Marks was given for correct answers and items brought. Next, and we had to make transactions by selling these recyclable items at the Buy Back Center. Participants who achieve total sales of more than RM5 will earn additional points, which I failed….

Assignment 2 was  UPCYCLING which was given to us like 3 days before the Hunt day which required us to choose TWO or more items that are no longer used at home and creatively combine them to create ONE new practical item for everyday use and recorded in the form of a video with a maximum duration of 1 minute and uploaded on Instagram (Reels) or TikTok to create awareness and provide easy ideas to the public to start 'upcycling' from home instead of simply throwing things away.

Assignment 3 was GO GREEN which required us to pick up a Tetrapak from the "Treasure Item" to be reused (upcycled) as a plant container and plant some Basil herb plants…

This activity promotes recycling and saves costs because there is no need to buy herbal plants every time they are used and to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Assignment 4 was RECYCLE MASTER where we were given a bag of trash and tasked with segregating the items according to their recycling categories. Each correct answer will earn points, which will be accumulated for the overall score which was fairly easy except for a few trick questions (for example- a dirty plastic container with chilli oil on it and such is considered food waste and not plastic as some of us (me included) thought it to be

The purpose of this task is to ensure that participants have knowledge of waste segregation by category and to practice this habit in their daily lives. For example, plastic bottles and food waste need to be separated and placed in separate garbage bags.

Assignment 5 seemed easy but again  the SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPION assignment was tricky as we had to answer the interactive quiz related to general questions about environmental sustainability to determine our own understanding of carbon footprints based on our everyday lifestyle. 

The questions was based on energy usage, recycling practices, shopping habits, and more

At the end of this quiz, we could evaluate our answers and performance as whether we could be considered a SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPION or NOT, and it sure taught is how we should and could incorporate sustainability into our daily lives!

I got away with a small consolation prize for having an informative caption in my pre-posting of which I am grateful but yeah am hoping yo do more and get better in the future…

But this event also taught me that we can and should save the planet by recycling and keeping trash off landfills and while we are doing that, we can also earn some money when we sell the recyclables to the recycling centres near us!!!

So let’s all do our part and “Jom Rawat Bumi” for a better future for our beloved home planet and our future generations
To know more about Alam Flora, check out www.alamflora.com.my

FROM COURT TO RUNWAY: DATIN WOON HUEI CHIN'S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY FOR CHANGE THROUGH PAGEANTRY

We rarely find professional lawyers participating in beauty pageants but a desire for a change led 38-year-old high-achieving litigator Datin Woon Huei Chin from Kuala Lumpur to join her very first pageant last year. Her decision to join a beauty pageant certainly paid off handsomely, as not only did she win the inaugural Mrs Peace & Culture International Pageant 2022 crown, but she also managed to transform herself completely during the entire process which lasted around 2 months. She also won herself loads of new friends, fans and supporters along the way.


For someone who is quite used to arguing cases in front of judges, she had to face a whole new kind of judge during her pageant competition, who needed more than just words to convince them. Not only did she win the main title against twelve other delegates she also secured the GEM Ambassador & Most Popular Award subsidiary titles. She was also one of six finalists given the opportunity to compete in the talent round where she performed a crowd-rousing KPop number.


She was selected as the winner by a panel of esteemed industry judges that included International Tour Master Gregory Chew, Founder & President of Asia Success Media Group Dato' Dr Jacky Chee, Founder of Angie Jewels, Angie Ng and Emily Tang.

Datin Woon graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Reading, United Kingdom in 2006 and completed her Bar Vocational Course (BAR) at the University of the West of England, United Kingdom in 2007.
She began her law career immediately upon receiving her BAR when she started chambering at Shearn Delamore & Co, one of the nation’s most prominent law firms, in late 2007. This is where she met her husband whom she married in 2012. She joined another prominent firm Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill in mid-2009 before starting her own practice Tiong & Woon (currently Tiong Woon & Khusyri) with her husband. She has been a successful lawyer for more than 15 years, having won most of her cases throughout her distinguished career.
After the pandemic, she was more focused on networking and marketing for the company’s business expansion.


When asked by people around her why she decided to join a pageant which Is a totally different world from her current professional and life path, she had this to say;
“For the past 15 years, I have been doing litigation and dealing with all things black and white - gathering evidence, facts checking and studying & preparing documents etc. After two years of the pandemic, I wanted something different. Something that could create a breakthrough for me.”
The mother of two beautiful daughters aged 3 & 9, shared that she joined pageantry to learn from the type of training which will speak to her body language, one that was different, all-encompassing and more dynamic. It was the first time she learned to walk on the runway, dance Korean K-Pop, groom, style etc. Initially, she found it unbearable and exhausting but being driven she persevered on, as she wanted to equip herself with all these newfound skills.

“On the stage, we really have to use our body language, especially how we carry ourselves, how we walk and how to look elegant at all times,” she expressed.
Learning to walk on the runway was a big challenge for her.
“For the past 38 years, I have been walking like a normal person. It’s different on the runway. You have to sashay when you walk and twist your waist and hips, in a more feminine or slightly exaggerated way while looking engaging and elegant. Your posture throughout has to be upright without being stiff in order to look beautiful and desirable,” added the newly minted-queen."
Datin Woon only had two months to prepare after auditioning and qualifying in March 2022. Her semi-final was in April and her grand final was scheduled for June 2022. Being the perfectionist that she was, she decided to hire catwalk mentors to help her improve her runway walk.


“I engaged 4 different mentors in training me to walk on the runway, including engaging the renowned catwalk guru Benjamin Tong. It was quite trying for me and also costly. More costly than legal fees, but in the end the results were clear,“ she declared.
She spent 1 1/2 hours per session four times a week to get the desired results.
She also had to find a mentor to train her in K-Pop dancing and choreograph her dance performance for her talent round. Her performance was only 2 minutes long but it took her 2 weeks just to learn the beginning 30-second sequence of her performance.
“Not only did I have to learn the routine, I had to prepare my costume, find someone to cut and prepare the song and I also had to rent a studio for the training sessions.”
“My body was just not used to high-energy K-Pop movements. It was very stressful initially but once I broke through, it became easier and everything was okay. I was very happy that I could go through it all and perform it well on stage during the grand finals. I found out later that everyone had enjoyed my show.”
The other major challenge for Datin Woon was walking elegantly in a long gown by Star Fashion.
“I had to wear a pair of six-inch heels and had to find the right kind of shoes to fit me properly and comfortably. It took me a long time to find a suitable one. I kept falling down, mostly from stepping on the back of the gown. Despite all the mishaps, I continued to learn the catwalk, even late at night at home. Finally, I had my shoes custom-made after I found the right shoe designer. It was very satisfying because I felt so secure after that and I could walk much better. You have to be honest with yourself. You cannot walk effortlessly if you do not have the right shoes. It was an invaluable experience.”
The most memorable experience Datin Woon had during the course of her pageant journey was finding and making new friends among the participating delegates and being part of a new group of people from another side of the world.
“I saw how they dressed, how they maintained their body figure, and how they took care of their appearance. I gained new insights as a woman.”
“Previously as a working woman, make-up and dressing up were not very important to me but then after my participation in this pageant journey I found it quite natural and practically essential, and I started practising it more and more each day. Making myself more attractive became an enjoyment to me as a woman,” she laughed in amusement.
“My skin is also healthier now that I am taking care of it better.”
“The whole process of being in this competition has transformed and also empowered me. I had to change into someone different in a very short period of time.”
“I had to find the right make-up artist and hairstylist to prepare me for the competition. I also had to find an image stylist to create a look that was suitable for me.”
“I had to train myself to face obstacles and overcome them, and become more courageous, “ she articulated.
“In the end, it was a great final for me. I slept very little during the 2 months leading up to the finals, I had to continuously prepare and upgrade myself,” she proudly declared.
“But the most important thing was the belief - to make it happen. - no matter what happens. It was my mantra for the competition.”
“I was very grateful that all the of the contestants had a good relationship and rapport with each other. There was good team spirit throughout the competition.”
“After two years of the pandemic, peace is very important to all of us because the world needs to gather itself, heal itself, reduce conflicts and face so many difficult challenges collectively. The last thing we need is more wars. Everyone gains by having peace. Everyone can move or travel freely and not worry about debilitating conflicts.”
“I like the Peace and Culture in the pageant title. It is perfect for the post-pandemic era,” she proclaimed.
“During MCO we were living with a lot of pressure, stress and anxiety. We were all concerned about the virus, its effects and its never-ending spread.”
“It’s good that Malaysians have adapted themselves well to the new way of living. They are more alert and careful with their health and hygiene. They are taking better care of themselves and also their children,” Datin Woon expressed.
When Datin Woon joined Miss & Mrs Peace & Culture International 2022, she was hoping to cultivate a different kind of body language that was more feminine and elegant, and give her a new balance in life and make her more complete as a woman.
As a lawyer she was always in corporate suits or donning coats, discussing cases and dealing with documents and evidence throughout her career. The pageant experience has transformed her beyond the courts and corporate offices and opened up new avenues for her, and has given her a more wholesome outlook on life. The experience has changed and enhanced her and has unleashed her full potential.
As the title winner, she has commitments to the organiser as their ambassador and also some duties to perform as an advocate for peace and culture. This will keep her busy and occupied beyond the courts for at least one year. She will also have some international duties to perform as the queen but all of her activities will take place one by one according to a schedule that the organisers will draw up.
Her number one supporter was her 41-year-old husband Dato’ Angus Tiong Chau Siong. When she informed him about her intention to participate in the competition, he more than encouraged her to participate and was behind her all the way. He had so much confidence in her that he immediately told her that he wanted to buy a stretch of 6 front row tables for the finals, inviting their family, friends and colleagues, so that they all could be there to give her the best support and encouragement during the grand finals.
Datin Woon’s life before the competition was mostly between office, courts and home. During the pandemic, she spent two whole years indoors. After joining the pageant and after going through the comprehensive pageant training program, she has also become sportier and fitter. She slimmed down a lot during the competition and was very thrilled with her shapely new figure. In order to maintain it and keep feeling good about herself, she has started playing badminton and basketball and has become a more active person compared to the past. She has learned to utilise her time well in order to enjoy more variety. It was some of the major changes that she adapted after the competition.
Datin Woon hopes to be an inspiration to other women. It was also one of her intentions when she enrolled in the pageant. She sincerely hopes to help other women unleash their full potential. She feels most women are actually capable of much more and are only utilizing 30% to 40% of their full potential. They can achieve more if they try different things and make things happen for themselves despite any obstacles.
Speaking from her heart, Datin Woon hopes to have more balance in her lifestyle, more time for her family, a beautiful marriage, a happy family, and a better work-life balance. In fact, the title has opened up more doors for her when she is approaching clients for business. It’s a lot easier for her to connect with people now when she is networking. People trust her more and have a lot more confidence in her to deliver.
Her success in Miss & Mrs Peace & Culture International Pageant has seen many other pageant brands approaching her to participate in their competitions. She may consider them after her tenure with the current pageant is over.
Her advice to others who may be considering joining pageants or those who do not believe they can do it;
“We can only know whether we can or cannot, only after we try.”
The inaugural Miss & Mrs Peace And Culture International Pageant, which focuses on respecting and promoting peace and culture through education in order to change the world, was presented by Eminent International and organised by L'Cadeau.