5 Interesting Facts About 'Star of the East', New Miss Universe Malaysia 2026 Crown

MALAYSIA, 2 OCTOBER 2026 —

Miss Universe Malaysia 2026 unveiled a new official crown, dubbed “Star of the East”, during the pageant’s preliminary competition on Thursday, October 1, 2026.

The introduction of the new crown marks a shift in the pageant’s branding, with organisers positioning the piece as a platform for promoting Malaysian arts, tourism and the country’s creative industries. Ayu Omar, president and national director of Miss Universe Malaysia 2026, said the design “combines the elegance of Malay art with the beauty of Eastern culture, infused with a modern touch”.

She added that the crown is meant to “highlight identity, heritage and culture” while reinforcing the pageant’s role in showcasing Malaysia to a global audience.

The most prominent feature of the “Star of the East” is a series of sharp points inspired by Sarawak’s traditional art motifs. “The crown is built with meticulous detail; the sharp points are specifically inspired by Sarawak heritage art,” Omar said. At the apex of the piece sits a radiant star, which she described as “a symbol of unity, aspiration and hope so that Malaysia continues to shine in the eyes of the world”.

The star is set amid a setting of fuchsia‑coloured gemstones, which the organisers say represent “courage, femininity and the spirit of Malaysian women today”. Although the exact monetary value of the crown was not disclosed, Omar assured that the materials and gemstones used are of the highest grade, reserved exclusively for the eventual winner.

The design was conceived by Abbas Ais, a member of the pageant’s organising committee and a Malaysian national. After the concept was finalised, the crown was fabricated by Maq of Junghuu Crown, a specialist crown‑maker based in Thailand. Omar highlighted the cross‑border collaboration, noting that the piece “was designed by Malaysians and crafted in Thailand”. The partnership underscores the pageant’s broader aim of linking local creative talent with regional manufacturing expertise.

The “Star of the East” will be awarded to the contestant who emerges victorious from a field of 13 finalists on Friday night. The winner will then represent Malaysia at the Miss Universe 2026 competition scheduled for November in Puerto Rico.

Omar thanked Tourism Malaysia for its support, stating that the collaboration “places Miss Universe Malaysia in a new era of legacy and provides a solid platform to promote the country’s culture and tourism sector to the world”. The endorsement from the tourism ministry signals the pageant’s alignment with national branding initiatives aimed at attracting international visitors.

The debut of the new crown is expected to generate ancillary economic activity, particularly for the luxury jewellery and gemstone sectors that supplied the fuchsia stones and high‑grade materials. While no specific figures were released, the involvement of a Thai crown‑making firm suggests a flow of procurement spend across the region’s high‑value craft market.

Moreover, the heightened media attention surrounding the crown’s cultural symbolism may boost demand for related merchandise and tourism packages tied to the pageant’s promotional campaigns.

The final stage of Miss Universe Malaysia 2026 will be broadcast live, with the crowning moment set to become a focal point for both domestic audiences and international viewers following the Miss Universe brand. The “Star of the East” thus serves not only as a trophy but also as a visual embodiment of Malaysia’s ambition to project its heritage, creativity and modernity on the world stage.

Related: Miss Universe Malaysia 2026 · Tourism Malaysia · Malaysia