The recent Miss Hong Kong competition sparked a conversation online about the origin of the contestants. While some questioned their backgrounds, the majority of netizens supported the recognition of ‘new Hong Kong’ people’s status.
The competition, which took place on a Sunday, featured 16 contestants, with the top three being Zhuang Zixuan, Wang Yiran, and Wang Minci. Zhuang, 21, was crowned the winner. After the results were announced, it was noted by some netizens that unlike previous years, both the first and second runners-up were not originally from Hong Kong.
While Zhuang was born in Hong Kong, she has a significant following on the Chinese mainland, and her victory was celebrated in Fujian Province, with some netizens calling her “the pride of Fujian.” The first runner-up, Wang Yiran, hails from Jiangsu Province in East China. She is a student at Hong Kong Baptist University and an internet influencer in the Chinese mainland. Despite finding Cantonese challenging, she expressed her eagerness to learn quickly. The second runner-up, Wang Minci, was born in Hong Kong but raised in Singapore. She has previously participated in an online talent show and was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing. Like Wang Yiran, she also expressed a desire to learn Cantonese.
Media reports highlighted that nearly half of the candidates during the interview stage were from the Chinese mainland. Virginia Lok, one of the judges, praised the mainland candidates and clarified that there was no requirement for Miss Hong Kong to have been born and raised in Hong Kong. According to the competition’s rules, candidates must be aged 18-28, single, childless, and possess a Hong Kong ID of either permanent or non-permanent status. This allows those living in the Chinese mainland and coming to Hong Kong for study or work to participate.
The number of students from the Chinese mainland attending university in Hong Kong has increased significantly over the years, reaching nearly 40,000 applicants by 2022. Although some questioned the origins of the candidates, most netizens argued that if they have a local ID, their status should be recognized. One netizen pointed out that Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing is also not originally from Hong Kong.
Tian Feilong, vice president of the School of Law of Minzu University of China, noted that this is part of a broader trend. With the increasing integration between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, more mainland girls will come to Hong Kong. He added that their active participation shows their eagerness to broaden their cultural exposure and social influence, making them a crucial force in boosting Hong Kong’s social and cultural development.
The Miss Hong Kong pageant, initiated in 1946 and sponsored by Hong Kong TV Broadcasts Ltd (TVB) since 1973, continues to be a significant event in the region.
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