“Being in a pageant is not all about the size and beauty” – Miss Singapore 2017 finalist

A Miss Singapore 2017 finalist, Kai Ling, has shared her views on the overwhelmingly negative criticism that the finalists have been subjected to ever since a group photo of them went viral.

In speaking to a Chinese daily and in a subsequent Facebook post, Kai Ling said that although she was overwhelmed to hear people calling her and her fellow finalists “ugly” or “pathetic,” she would not let such comments get the best of her or discourage her from pursuing her passion.

Revealing that her uncle’s untimely death due to cancer was what pushed her to go after her dreams despite her low self esteem, Kai Ling said that she entered the pageant despite being teased for her size in the past, before adding that she has taken the criticism thrown against her as an opportunity for improvement.

“Being a premature baby, I was really thin and small in size as compared to the people who are of the same age as me. I often get teased even before being in this pageant. So by being in this pageant, I wish to convey to these people that being in a pageant is not all about the size and beauty, it is also about the personality, confidence, courage & compassion. 

“Yes I understand that looks should be the utmost criteria in a pageant from how the society sees it, but I also believe that it is something that is very subjective & everyone will have different views/opinions about it yeah?

“Nonetheless, through this experience, I have also learnt to treat these comments as a platform to help me grow. Because with these comments, I know where I can improve myself to become a better person (Eg: To gain some weight of course)!”