The Bon Odori Festivals is held every year at Matsushita Corp Stadium in Shah Alam, Selangor. Doors opened at 5pm (Saturday, 17/7), and where was I? Still at KLCC about to finish Inception. I rushed over to Shah Alam, wish I had Hiro Nakamura's teleportation power to get me there but alas I had to make do with a car.

With random pretty Japanese girl.. lol!

She was there to promote "Come Visit Japan" :)

Held during Summer, this is more of a Japanese Cultural festival more than anything else. Bon Odori simply translates as Bon Dance, an event held during Obon to welcome ancestors' souls and to hold a memorial service for the souls. During which time people gather at open spaces/parks dancing traditional dances accompanied by traditional Japenese music either with spiritual messages or folk songs.

This event is a great chance for Malaysians to experience a lil part of the Japanese culture and has been a big hit ever since it started here. You can join in the dance in the middle of the field around the stage where the performers are. You won't be alone coz there's a sea of people around you.

Performing the traditional dance

There were girls of all ages with pretty and colourful yukatas walking around. I'm not just talking about Japanese girls, the local girls joined in the fun too in their yukatas. But no Cosplay allowed though, as a sign of respect for the festival.

Enter sound effects: "Aaawwwww..."

Aren't they just adorable!!

I gotta get me one of those pretty yukatas for next year..

What else is there at an event like this? Loads of food! Stalls were set up at one corner of the stadium. But whoah the lines... they were ridiculously long! I managed to get some chicken/beef thingy with teriyaki sauce and bits of sushi. The line for these weren't very long you see and I was already hungry. Of course you can't miss the Japanese desserts, line was also long so I settled for the easily obtainable ice cream! ;p And people were just picnicking everywhere..

Really cute huh!

Doraemon food! Lol!

I don't know the name of that ice cream but it was yummy!!

After filling my tummy I walked around to soak in the atmosphere. Wished I had gotten there earlier coz it all felt a bit rushed. Next year, 4.30pm.. :)

10:45pm - Sleeping Supper

Been out since 9:45am yaww!

If you missed out on this year's, make sure to mark your calender next year.. Oh and don't forget to observe the guidelines especially with what to wear & what not to wear..

A Glitzy Affair! What a way to end the Estée Lauder Model Search 2010. 12 weeks of searching, 4,000 contestants and over 5,000 on-line votes later, Estee Lauder finally found their girls at KLCC on Tuesday.

Munching on a "Pop of Pink" macaroon ;p

Hosted by Daphne Iking & Naz, they kept guests entertained while 10 finalists from Group A (for 29 years and below) and 10 finalists for Group B (for above 30 years) worked the catwalk and impressing judges with their answers like the world depended on it. The judges awarded points based on 5 categories - beauty, how good they look on film (photogenic), communication skills, poise and body shape.

Daphne & Naz

The Judges

(Miko-founder of Miko Hair Studio & Academy; Tinie-MIFA Female Model of th Year 2009; Wee Chee-renowned celebrity fashion stylist; Maggie White-GM South, SEA & Gulf Countries Tourism Australia; Katrina Liew-Brand GM for Estée Lauder Malaysia; Sonny San-Creative genuis behind Eclipse; Andrew Tan-of Andrew Models; Simon Wong-Assistant Director, Image Communication Products Division, Canon)

 

The finalists had a chance to show-off two outfits each. In their first outfit with a white/off-white theme they had to go through a Q&A session. The finalists proved that beauty & brains really do go together. When asked the Australian destination of choice, most fancied Queensland, to feed wild dolphins and Sydney, to climb the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. Thought to myself why choose one, it'll be great to go all over Australia to fully experience it's beauty!

 

 

Group A

Group A

Group B

Group B

Talking about beauty, I was admiring the gorgeous outfits modelled by the finalists from Eclipse's latest collection by Sonny San. In the second part of the fashion show, finalists wore outfits that showed their personality. Each one, dazzling! I want an outfit that makes my personality shine too! I should visit Eclipse soon ;). The "walk-off" competition was the finale in front of the panel of judges to show the judges why they deserve to win. No one would have ever guessed that these girls only had only 1-day intensive catwalk training by AndrewsModels.

Greecian Beauties

Glittery & Sexy

Simply Beautiful

 

And the tresses on those girls, oh so bouncy and shiny courtesy of Miko Hair Studio & Academy. Looked great.

 

While the judges deliberated, a treat for the guests. Omg! Noryn Aziz!! I lurv her voice. So jazzy, so soulful. My fave number she sang last night was "The Way You Look Tonight". It blew me away! *sigh* Despite the technical glitch..

 

 

After that brilliant performance by Noryn Aziz which ended too soon ;) , it was time to announce the winners! So here they are.. *drum roll please*

 

Photo courtesy of Estée Lauder

 

Grand Prize Winner

Category A (below 29 years of age)

Natacha Meunier

Category B (above 30 years of age)

Jasmine Ngee Phay Koon

Subsidiary Prizes

Estée Lauder - Canon Most Photo Perfect

Jenna Gong Jia Yi

Estée Lauder - Eclipse Most Elegant

Jennifer So

Estée Lauder - AndrewsModels Most Promising Catwalk

Nur Syuda Binti Rifin

Estée Lauder - Miko Hair Ambassador

Natacha Meunier

The winners with Katrina Liew

(Brand General Manager for Estée Lauder Malaysia)

Winner with the judges

The winners of Estée Lauder Search 2010 won fabulous prizes worth RM50,000 each as well as oppurtunities of a lifetime. Both winners from each category will took home : Estée Lauder Brand Ambassador title, an all-expense paid 6D/5N professional photography session with Canon and experience a uniquely "Aussie-experience" - they're going to Sydney, a 7 page beauty spread in Malaysia' top fashion magazines-Cleo, The Malaysian Women's Weekly, Cosmopolitan and Cittabella, Estée Lauder products worth RM10,000, Eclispe shopping vouchers worth RM1,500, a model's portfolio worth RM2,000, a Canon Digital Ixus 200IS worth RM1,398 and RM1,000 worth of hairstyling services at Miko Hair Studio.

The other finalists didn't go home empty handed either - all finalists take home an Estée Lauder hamper worth RM1,000.

Congratulations to the winners! And to the rest of the beautiful finalists, you're winners too!

After the event, I went around taking more pics. *sniggers*

With Wing & Miu

Amber Chia lookin gorgeous even when she's preggers

Lurvin Azura's hair!

The Estée Lauder team that made it all possible

Judging by the reponse Estée Lauder Model Search has received over the past 4 years, I can't wait to see the line up for next year! It's one of those events that you just look forward to! :)

For you girls who are thinking of joining the search next year visit Estée Lauder Model Search 2010 site for guidelines. Also follow them on facebook. Good luck in advance.

Yeah you know what I'm talking about. Those travel size sets from Clinique are back at only RM40. It's a great time to try out Clinique products if you aren't a Clinique user or would just like to try to see if it suits you.

No, I didn't go wild and buy many many sets. I got a friend to get it for me at KLCC during lunch so that I wouldn't be tempted to buy more than one. I'll probably end up going tomorrow and buying another one.. or two.. Oh there's no point resisting!

Anyways, since my skin concern at the moment is hydration despite my oiliness issues, I got her to get me the Hydrating Solutions set. I notice that I seem to be attracted to spray bottles lately. The Moisture Surge Face Spray in this set will come in really handy especially spending long periods in air-cond places.

Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief 15ml

Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser 30ml

Moisture Surge Face Spray Thirsty Skin Relief 30ml

The pouch isn't as pretty as the ones last year. It's a plain plastic white one with coloured trimmings depending on the set. But it's what's inside that I want, so I'm sure I'll find some use for the pouch.

Hmm.. maybe I should get the anti-ageing one as well.. do I look old to you? Don't answer that! Lol!!

Casual, Chic, Carefree

Everyones been talking about Salabianca's Revolutionize Your Fashion Style event since Salabianca announced it on their facebook. Naturally, I was fussing over what to wear before rushing off to Salabianca Pavilion yesterday morning since there was going to be a photoshoot.

Busy at work

I got there about 1055am to register when Larry of Salabianca instantly recognised me. I first met him at the KLCC fashionista workshop in April. A Salabianca staff who attended to me got me to log on to my facebook account for registration and was given a coupon-like thingy for makeup, hair, gift redemption &; photoshoot. To redeem my gift, I had to pick it out of a huge box! *no peeping*

I exchange my original set of bangles with Jean coz she liked the one I got

I like the spikey & weave looking ones!

No.7! Oo that's me! I didn't really have to wait very long before my number was called. My hair only took about 10 minutes to sort out coz I wanted to leave it as it was, just a bit more done. No curls this time though. :(

With Jean, Elle, Sharon & Miu gettin her hair done

I got my makeup done by Steven from MAC. I quite like the colours he used for me eyes, gold, bronzey yet natural. He went heavy on the liner which I liked coz it's one of those things I don't usually do.

After hair & makeup

Lookin a lil different with this look..

Doroshi, Jean, Sharon & Cia Wei @ makeup/hair section

Just as I thought I was going to get my pic taken in my purple top, which I thought looked quite alright ;), I was told to go into Salabianca's store to change into a outfit. Oh wow! All that fussing in the morning was pointless. I got to wear something from Salabianca!!

I was given a dark pink/maroon coloured top with small metal details to change into. I rather liked the top, the colour is so me but I'm not sure where I'll wear it to. At RM109, it was tempting to get. But it was a bit loose so they had to tie up the left strap to keep it from running down. Wouldn't want a "wardrobe malfunction" during the photoshoot! *eeekk*

As I rushed back to the makeover area, I got accessorised and put infront of a backdrop. This was the cameraman, "Okie, pose. Smile more!" and that was it. Done in 2 shots. Talk about a quickie. :P 

Thanx Doroshi for taking these! :)

No guesses for what happened after that, loads more pics with every familiar face that was there. 

With Larry of Salabianca

The girls lookin great!

Can't say the same for my hair though.. lol!

With Candilicious & Ying Ling

Elle, Miu & Jean striking a pose

I'm liking the hat look!

Wonder where'd Elle's shoes go.. :P

An event like this attracts girls like bees to honey. It's just so much fun. This one felt a lil red carpet-ish especially because we got to take pics in fancy Salabianca outfits complete with accessories. :) Apart from the whole photoshoot thingy, it was a good oppurtunity to find out what Salabianca's style is like.

This was a 2 day event at Salabianca Pavilion, 10-11/7 from 11am to 8pm. Pictures taken will be uploaded by Monday 12/7 onto their facebook. Top 20 pictures with the most votes from friends/fans will get a goodie bag each with a Salabianca shopping voucher. For more info visit their facebook.

Since there's 20 prizes to be won, start campaigning, you might get lucky.. ;)