Miss World pageant fetes Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar win
MANILA, Philippines — Michelle Yeoh’s phenomenal win in the recent Academy Awards, as the first Asian actress to win an Oscar for Best Actress, was a highly celebrated event, earning congratulatory messages from different parts of the world, even from the Miss World Organization (MWO).
“Michelle Yeoh makes history,” the 72-year-old global pageant organization posted on social media following the Malaysian actress’ victory for her portrayal of Evelyn Quan Wang in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” at the 95th awarding ceremonies of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) held at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California, in the United States on March 12 (March 13 in Manila). The film also took home the Oscar for Best Picture, along with five other awards.
“Miss Malaysia 1983, Michelle Yeoh has made history as the first woman of Asian descent to win the Best Actress award,” the organization said. The actress represented Malaysia in the global tilt’s 33rd edition held at the Royal Albert Hall in the United Kingdom in 1983. She went home empty-handed from the international pageant.
“The action scenes allow Yeoh to display her incredible abilities as a martial artist but it’s her grounding through the crazy situations that won her the best actress award,” MWO continued.
Coincidentally, the actress who presented Yeoh with her Oscar is also a Miss World alumna, Halle Berry who represented the US in the global tilt’s 36th edition held in 1986, also at the Royal Albert Hall. The American actress finished in the Top 7.
Article continues after this advertisementBerry presented the trophy in place of actor Will Smith, who was banned from attending the Oscar ceremonies for 10 years for slapping host Chris Rock on stage last year. The Best Actress trophy is traditionally handed out by the Best Actor winner from the previous year.
Article continues after this advertisementLike Yeoh, Berry also made history with her Oscar win for “Monster’s Ball” in 2001, becoming the first African-American woman to earn the Best Actress trophy.
MWO had also congratulated Yeoh for her recent Best Actress win at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, also for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” EDV