Kota Kinabalu: Behind every confident step Elnara Asha Mohd Fauzi takes on the international stage stands the unwavering support and commitment of her parents, proving that a child’s success is often rooted in the sacrifices, encouragement, and steadfast belief of those who guide them from the very beginning.
Elnara, a Primary 1 pupil from SK Tombovo, Putatan, brought home two first-place prizes – Winner of the I Am Model Search 2026 (kids category) held in Thailand and Grand Winner Overall in The Catwalk Master Asia 2026 (kids to adults category) at Putrajaya, both held during January and February respectively.
Her other subsidiary titles include the Most Photogenic Award in the I Am Model Search pageant organised by Double Event Management, as well as Best in Introduction, Best in Evening Gown, and Best in Pageant Walk for The Catwalk Master Asia organised by Slaywalker Empire.
Elnara’s mother, Nazira Ashraff, expressed that it was an incredibly emotional and proud experience to see their daughter achieve victory on the international stage.
“We felt overwhelmed with gratitude, joy, and pride. Coming from Sabah, it means even more to see her achieve this level of success and represent our home with honour,” she told the Daily Express on Saturday.
It all began when Elnara joined the Little Miss Kaamatan pageant organised by Imago Shopping Mall last year, marking her first step into the pageant world. From that moment, Nazira realised how much Elnara loved being on stage.
“She showed natural confidence, strong stage presence, and the determination to always do her best, even at such a young age,” she explained, adding that Elnara was only six years old when she joined her first competition.
Preparing for a competition, Nazira said, is no easy feat. She mentioned that preparations for Elnara usually begin about two months before the competition, where she attends intensive catwalk training with her coach to refine her walk, posture, and stage confidence.
At the same time, Nazira begins planning and designing her competition wardrobe.
“Since most international competitions last around six days, we need to prepare approximately eight to nine different outfits, including a national costume, evening gown, themed wear, and opening outfits,” she explained.
She also mentioned that some of her dresses were sponsored by a local designer, while others were handmade by her grandmother.
Most importantly, Nazira stressed that Elnara’s health and well-being are prioritised, as they believe these elements allow her to perform her best.
“We make sure she gets proper rest, maintains a healthy diet, and stays physically and mentally prepared,” she said.
For the competition in Thailand, Nazira said the expenses were quite significant considering they travelled as a family of three, including flight tickets, accommodation, meals, transportation, competition fees, costumes, and other expenses.
Yet, Nazira remains committed to supporting her daughter’s journey, stating that this opportunity is an investment in her personal development and a chance for her to represent Sabah and Malaysia on the global stage.
“For us, participating in international competitions is not only about competing, but also about giving her the opportunity to gain exposure and valuable life experiences.
It allows her to meet and connect with other children her age from around the world, learn about different cultures, and build confidence on an international platform,” she said.
However, Nazira acknowledged that supporting her daughter’s journey has not come without challenges. She shared that one of the greatest difficulties as a parent is striking a balance between Elnara’s education, training commitments, and personal time.
“It requires strong commitment, sacrifice, and careful planning. There are also emotional and physical demands, especially during competition preparations.
Nevertheless, we always remind ourselves that her happiness, confidence, and personal growth are the most important priorities. Seeing her progress, maturity, and strength makes every challenge worthwhile,” she said.
In her advice to other parents who seek to enrol their child in pageantry, Nazira stressed that this journey requires strong commitment, patience, continuous support, and financial planning.
Parents must be prepared to invest time in training, rehearsals, fittings, and other preparations, which can take months before each competition.
She also urged parents to focus on giving their children meaningful experiences rather than only chasing titles, saying that it is important to always prioritize the child’s happiness, education and well-being.
“The child must genuinely enjoy the journey, and parents should support without putting too much pressure. With the right balance, pageants can help build confidence, independence, and strong character,” she said.
For her next competition, Elnara is set to join the World Junior Tourism Ambassador 2026 in July, held in Vietnam.
