Malaysian beauty queen stripped of title for playful acts with suggestive male dancers in Thailand

Viru Nikah Terinsip. Photo from Terinsip's Instagram

In a report by The Star, the widespread criticism of the video resulted in the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) withdrawing her title, despite her issuance of a public apology via her Facebook page on Monday.

The South China Morning Post has noted that KDCA President Joseph Pairin Kitingan recognized it’s common for individuals to become overly enthusiastic during vacations. However, he remarked that such behavior was not fitting for a beauty queen expected to represent the virtues of Huminodun—a maiden from the Dusun ethnic group in Sabah’s mythology, celebrated for her beauty and wisdom.

Furthermore, Kitingan mentioned that the video elicited a spectrum of responses from the public, from amusement to disappointment, which led the KDCA to make a decision in order to prevent additional controversy and unwanted scrutiny.

AsiaOne reported that Terinsip acknowledged her lack of caution in sharing the video through her public apology.

The beauty queen also declared her decision to relinquish her title and took the opportunity to express gratitude towards the public for their supportive messages, suggesting that it was time for everyone to "focus on other issues and move forward" beyond this event.

Terinsip, 24, was crowned the winner of the 2023 Unduk Ngadau Johor pageant, an annual beauty contest that celebrates the spirit of Huminodun.