FINALLY, a winning Miss World is judged by her purpose – a real commitment to touch lives by serving others, though she is also beautiful.
In closing, this is the climactic message from the helm of the Miss World Organisation:
“You must have a purpose in life.”
The direct, didactic statement comes from a converted believer in “Beauty with a Purpose” – Dr Sean Wong, License Holder of Miss World Malaysia and Miss World Singapore.
In a personal, touching speech to a gathering of professors and students at University College of Sabah Foundation (UCSF) on Feb 6, that’s what the sworn lover of Sabah said at the end of the day:
“Let me share some of the reasons why I committed myself to do this. Beauty with a Purpose is an incredible platform.”
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Behind the glamour of the world’s most beautiful, the man has himself seen personal tragedies three times over.
“I come from a family with members having mental health problems and special needs. A couple of years ago, I had a son who was born and died. So I went through the loss of my own dear son.”
“So to me, I want to do good – not just helping my own family, but by impacting the world.”
“But I needed a platform,” he said.
“That’s when I met Mrs Julia Morley (CEO, Miss World Organisation) many years ago. She inspired me with a global mission – one that brings together very young people, aged 21 to 26, who are empowered and united by purpose.
“They come up with amazing ideas, work together, pool resources, and create impact in the world. It is a wonderful vision, and she has made this happen for many years.”
“I wanted to be like her, but it’s not easy when you are faced with big challenges in your own life,” Wong shared candidly.
“I had a mentally ill elder sister. I took care of her for many years as a younger brother before she passed away a couple of years ago. The journey was so difficult. My mother, a divorcee, had no education and no money, but she found connections, worked very hard, and put in every ounce of effort to bring me to where I am today,” Wong continued.
Brink of bankruptcy after university
Then he realised that “education is not the only thing that matters.”
“After graduation, you venture out and realise that the world is filled with all sorts of challenges. I was very young, not experienced enough, and couldn’t handle financial pressure. I was on the verge of bankruptcy, but thankfully, I turned things around.”
“Life is like that. Everybody goes through ups and downs, misfortunes, and even tragedies,” he noted.
But with an opportunity like a university education at UCSF, Wong said the knowledge gained opens the door to “make a bigger difference.”
Realisation: ‘You must have a purpose in life’
“You must have a purpose in life, despite your difficulties beyond university days.”
“Build resilience, form strong bonds, so that when you graduate and work in different fields across the nation, you continue that journey – pulling resources together and facing challenges together.”
“I found a bigger purpose beyond myself, beyond my family – to touch the lives of others who are disadvantaged. Maybe due to disabilities or illness like my sister, or loss of a family member.”
“Make a difference in someone’s life. Sometimes it’s just a word you say. Sometimes it’s simply listening, or saying: ‘I am here beside you.’ A word of encouragement, or a pat on the shoulder, can make all the difference. That’s how we continue this mission,” Dr Wong entreated.
Reach out, touch lives, like ‘Beauty with a Purpose’
Interestingly, Wong repeatedly emphasised “touching lives” in his speech – a concept worth understanding.
“Beauty with a Purpose is so meaningful. We are so privileged today to have Miss World carrying the torch around the world, touching lives globally. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible – thanks to the platform and inspirational people who stand by you and say: ‘Let’s do it.’”
Wong is not shy to say he was the one who invited two Miss Worlds so far to “touch” Sabah.
“I love Sabah so much that I am committed to doing this for the past four years, and I hope we have many more years to come.”
Even a brief encounter can leave a significant, possibly lasting impact – emotionally, physically, or in someone’s life path – fostering connection, support, and kindness, and perhaps changing a person for the better.
Autism: Lives touched in Likas
He cited the unforgettable Feb 5 visits to the Sabah Autism Society in Likas, and the Sabah Society for the Deaf in Tuaran, during the week-long Beauty with a Purpose trip between Feb 4 - 10, 2026.
“Mrs Morley was there, interacting with both autistic children and children who are deaf. We had so much fun, and we were all very emotional. Seeing such innocent individuals enjoying life – so joyful, so happy – you wouldn’t think they were facing disabilities.”
“All you can do is be with them and give the best encouragement possible,” Wong recalled.
“After seeing that, Mrs Morley came up to me and said: ‘We need to do something.’ She committed to helping them.”
At the Sabah Autism Society, families shared their need for a new space to develop programmes and provide more opportunities for children.
“When asked what they needed, the answer was funding — around RM300,000 to RM350,000. Mrs Morley asked how quickly it could be done with sufficient funds.”
“When told it could be completed in under a year with RM200,000 to RM250,000, she said: ‘I think I must do it. Beauty with a Purpose will provide RM200,000.’”
“The moment was magical. Everyone cheered. The president broke down in tears and hugged her repeatedly,” Wong recounted.
Morley pledged that when the building is completed, she will return to lay the final brick.
“From my experience, Mrs Morley keeps her word. I have seen it happen globally,” Wong said.
Stunning joy: Deaf children in Tuaran play music
Later that afternoon brought another unforgettable moment.
“In Tuaran, deaf children played musical instruments as a team. We were amazed at how they learned and performed together.”
“Their music was beautiful. Their faces and eyes sparkled with joy.”
Once again, Mrs Morley asked how she could help. Upon learning that some children lacked basic necessities, she committed US$5,000 to support them.
“To me, this is what the mission is all about. It is a pride and honour to help make this vision come true,” Wong said.
Out to help the mentally ill
“I am working with schools and universities to create mental health programmes because of my own experiences,” Wong said.
“I am also on a mission to produce films on mental health under Beauty with a Purpose. We believe that through films, music programmes, and education, we can empower people.”
“By bringing together young people, educators, teachers, and volunteers, we can better understand the problems in front of us and take action.”
“All we need is an idea, a proposal, and someone with the courage to say: ‘Let’s do it.’ Step by step, we can make it happen.”
What Miss World Organisation does not do: Opal Suchata
“Miss World Organisation is not just about bringing together the most beautiful women. It brings together women with purpose,” Opal said.
“And now that I am Miss World 2025, it is also a platform that connects me and the organisation to Sabah, Malaysia.”
“Beyond my campaign, Beauty with a Purpose – which focuses on breast cancer – education is also very important to me, as someone who had to move to a big city to pursue my dreams and build a strong foundation in life.” she said in her speech in University College Sabah Foundation.
Word power from a Vice Chancellor
ASSIGNED to cover the visit of Miss World 2025, Opal Suchata, I love the speeches at University College Sabah Foundation. Why?
That’s when speakers truly speak their mind.
Just as the power of words is a primary tool journalists use to create impact and influence, this same linguistic asset is evident in the speeches.
At the University College Sabah Foundation, I heard intriguing words and phrases – fascinating, mysterious, unexpected, even strange lines – when Opal and her entourage arrived on Feb 6 to an all-out cultural welcome, followed by speeches, lunch, and a spirited tour of the Nature Inspiration Art Gallery (NIAG).
Vice Chancellor, Datuk Dr. Rafig Idris, delivered the welcome address, opening with:
“Welcome to a special sharing by Miss World 2025 and the CEO of Miss World Organisation.”
A ‘Red Letter Day’
“Today is a truly red-letter day for our institution. It is not every day that we have the privilege of hosting three powerhouse figures who represent the perfect blend of grace, intellect, and humanitarian spirit.”
‘Red-letter day’?
It turns out to be a medieval idiom “Red Letter Day” referring to the practice of marking special days in red ink, while ordinary days were written in black.
And what did Dr Rafig mean by “a perfect blend of grace, intellect, and humanitarian spirit”?
In essence, it describes a balanced, grounded, and empathetic individual – one who combines poise, intelligence, and a compassionate heart.
Few would use a metaphor like “three powerhouse figures” as an oblique reference to the trio – Miss World Opal Suchata, Miss World Malaysia Taanusiya Chetty, CEO Julia Morley, and franchise holder Dr. Sean Wong – who together project immense aura, influence, energy, and impact, greater than their individual contributions.
In other words, through vivid words and phrases, Dr Rafig paid Opal, Taanusiya, Morley, and Dr Sean Wong a very high tribute.
Unfortunately, for lack of space, we cannot publish the entire speech.
Morley’s ‘bare bones’ but profound speech
ON the other hand, Julia Morley employs layered speech.
She speaks in simple, short sentences, giving you a “bare-bones” impression.
But the message is deep and profound.
Consider just the two opening paragraphs of her speech below:
“I love the excitement of coming to the University (UCSF), and I love to see the faces of youth with potential. And in your faces, you see it. In your faces, you see us.”
“I see you wondering, who is this woman? Who are these people who think beauty contests are so good? To be honest with you, I have no understanding of a beauty contest. We are not a beauty contest in that sense. What we are, are young people communicating.”
Baffling claim of ignorance
Isn’t it baffling that the veteran CEO of the Miss World Organisation appears to claim ignorance by saying: “To be honest with you, I have no understanding of a beauty contest”?
It is hard to figure out what she meant – and perhaps only those familiar with her work would recognise that the statement reflects a deliberate attempt to reframe beauty pageants as humanitarian platforms rather than mere physical competitions.
For example, by saying, “We are not a beauty contest in that sense,” she distances Miss World from traditional pageants that focus primarily on physical appearance – bikinis or “parading bodies” – an older, conventional model often seen as shallow and outdated.
“What we are, are young people communicating” redefines the organisation as a platform for global connection, where young women from around 140 countries come together to share ideas, build friendships, and promote positive impact.
The mantra “Beauty with a Purpose” is not explicitly mentioned in these two opening paragraphs, but it is clearly implied. While contestants remain beautiful, they are ultimately judged on their purpose – their commitment to serving others – rather than just their physical appearance, thriving instead on kindness, intelligence, and humanitarian work.
