As the Mrs. Asia International 2022 pageant is right around the corner, it is only fitting to interview one of the contestants. I am happy to announce that this edition of Beauty Corner will feature a strong, inspirational woman with a story worth sharing with the world: Mrs. Malaysia Asia International 2022, Kieren Laurent. Keep reading to learn more about Kieren, her advocacy, and what Malaysia has to offer.
Q: Congratulations on being crowned as Mrs. Malaysia Asia International 2022! What made you want to compete in the Mrs. Asia International pageant?
A: Thank you, Katherine! It is such an honour to be able to represent my country, Malaysia, once more. The core message of the Mrs. Asia International pageant is to foster mutual understanding and relationships among Asian countries. I am in love with my Asian-Malaysian culture and heritage, so this is one of the most perfect pageants for me to compete in. I want to showcase and uplift my traditions to the world and show off Malaysian hospitality and its wide array of cultures.
Q: How did you get your start in pageantry?
A: I started pageants when I was young, back when I was 17. I first entered a cultural beauty pageant called “Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan,” or Harvest Queen. This pageant is held every year during the harvest festival in Sabah. It is a KadazanDusun, Murut, and Rungus beauty pageant held as a remembrance and dedication to a legendary woman, Huminodun, who gave her life to save her people from hunger and famine. I represented a district called Tanjung Aru and placed in the Top 15. Although I did not win, I cherished this memory as it paved my way to other beauty pageant competitions.
Photographer: @radzrahman
Q: With your extensive pageant history, what would you say is the most memorable moment you have had at a competition?
A: Always, always, and I mean always, check your smile and teeth before going on stage! In one of the competitions I joined, the girl next to me had lipstick stains all over her teeth, and I had to smile while whispering, “Lipstick, lipstick, teeth, teeth!” When you have lipstick stains all over your teeth, you look like you just devoured a box of chocolates backstage, which is not good. Luckily, she understood me, and phewww, all is well!
Q: In addition to your pageant adventures, you are also a law school graduate. What peaked your interest in becoming a lawyer?
A: I loved watching CSI on AXN and Law and Order during my teenage years. I wanted to work with the police forensic unit back then and do all the nitty-gritty work of a criminal lawyer. Law school was tough indeed, and I am so proud to have been able to earn my Bachelor’s Degree in Law—this is one of my biggest accomplishments in life! Right now, my main focus is my kids, so when they are all grown up, I would like to practice law once more and be that criminal lawyer I always dreamed of being.
Q: You have been open about your diagnosis with Bipolar Disorder. Would you mind telling us about your mental health journey, and why you became a mental health advocate?
A: Advocating for mental health is such an important aspect of my life. I was clinically diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder back in 2020. My diagnosis was a lifesaver, as I now understand why I feel the way I do. It was an eye-opener that I needed. I know what it’s like to be afraid of your own mind. If there is one thing that I would like people to know about mental illnesses or disorders, it is that having one doesn’t mean that you are crazy or weak. Scientifically, it means that you have a chemical imbalance in the brain. Hence, going to therapy or opting for medication is crucial for stabilizing the condition.
Photographer: @radzrahman
Q: Speaking of health, you are a neuro-linguistics coach. What exactly is neuro-linguistics? How does it benefit people?
A: Oh yes! I am an American Board-Certified Neuro-Linguistics Coach. Neuro-linguistic programming, to put it simply, is a psychological approach that involves analyzing strategies used by successful individuals and applying them to reach a certain goal. NLP is famous, and it is used by successful individuals like Tony Robbins. In NLP, we work with individuals who have a mental blockage, and we analyze their thoughts, behaviors, and language so that they are able to overcome these self-limiting beliefs to reach their highest potential and life goals.
Q: You are the founder of H-Tox. Could you tell us a little about your business?
A: Aside from juggling many hats, I am also an entrepreneur. This business of mine focuses on gut health, as gut health is one of the keys to staying healthy both in mind and body. If your gut health is imbalanced and your immune system isn’t working properly, your serotonin and hormones won’t be either, making it far more challenging to stay healthy. H-tox stands for healthy detox for your gut. It is all natural, easy to consume, and tastes great too!
Q: What is the most prominent lesson your children have taught you?
A: That you don’t need much to be happy. My children taught me the real meaning of happiness, which is love, to be loved, and to be content with the simplest things in life, like eating ice-cream or pizza with your loved ones or basking under the sun by the beach making sand castles. I think our society has lost its way in finding the true meaning of happiness.
Q: Children are taught to never lie because we tell them it is a “bad thing.” However, lying is not always frowned upon by society. Despite the opposing viewpoint, do you think kids should still be taught to never lie? Why or why not?
A: I think everyone has a different way of parenting, and there is no right or wrong. Instead of debating whether children should be taught to lie or not, I believe we should think about how we can mold our children into good people. Mold them into human beings who do not harm others through their thoughts and actions, and teach them the essence of actions and consequences. That, I believe, is far more important.
Q: If your life was made into a movie, who would you want to play you? Why?
A: I would love for an up-and-coming actress to take on the challenge of playing Kieren Laurent. I don’t mind who the actress will be as long as she is willing to sit down with me to do her research well. I would be willing to answer any questions in order for her to bring my character to life. It won’t be an easy one, but I am sure a serious and professional actress would be able to perform well.
Photographer: @radzrahman
Q: What are, in your opinion, the must-see sites and must-do activities for anyone who visits Malaysia?
A: As a Malaysian and a proud Sabahan, I would say that Sabah has so much to offer travelers. If you like culture, come to Sabah in May to witness the Harvest Festival throughout the whole month. If you are an adventurous traveler, you can take on Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, or go white-water rafting in the Padas River. If you just want to chill and relax, you can always enjoy the islands and beaches. The options are endless in Sabah because there are so many things to do.
Q: Finally, is there anything else you would like to share with us?
A: I would like to share with everyone who is going through a tough time out there that mental health, or rather, mental illness or disorder, should not stop you from pursuing things that you love. Always seek professional help if you feel like you are losing your battle with depression. Remember, everyone is going through something in life, and as a society, it is always important to be nice and stop labeling those going through a mental illness as crazy or weak.
This or That
Thank you, Kieren, for being a special guest on Beauty Corner! I wish you the best of luck at the Mrs. Asia International 2022 pageant.
Make sure to follow Kieren’s journey to the crown on her personal Instagram account.
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Tags: Beauty and Brains, Beauty Corner, Malaysia, Miss Malaysia, MrsAsiaInternational, Mrspageant, pageant