AMFA 2012: Modelling To A New Height

The 7th Asia Model Festival Awards 2012

South Korea

17 - 18 January 2012

The 7th Asia Model Festival Awards (AMFA) took place in South Korea recently, spanning across two whole days with the inaugural Korea Beauty Festival Show and the 2nd Asia New Face Model Contest taking place on 17th January, and the main event on 18th January 2012. 

This prestigious event was held at the majestic Olympic Hall in the Seoul Olympic Park with our very own renowned international model, Amber Chia, given the honour to cut the ceremonial ribbon (alongside the Chairman of Korea Model Association (KMA) Yang Eui-Sig and several other guests of honour)  at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Korea Beauty Festival Show. 

(Amber Chia at the Opening Ceremony of the Inaugural Korea Beauty Festival 2012)

(Makeup Showcase - Body Painting)

Hosted by the KMA and Korea Pro Makeup Job Interchange Association, the Korea Beauty Festival Show featured an array of performances, fashion shows, hair shows, and makeup showcases. Among the highlights were the impressive displays of body painting, fantasy makeup, as well as special effects makeup. Also, in a celebrity fashion show by famed South Korean designer Park Jong-Chul, familiar faces that we can be proud of on the runway included Chia and Miss Universe Malaysia 2011 Deborah Henry.

Later that evening, 45 up-and-coming models from 11 Asian countries battled out at the 2nd Asia New Face Model Contest 2012. The winners of the (regional) AMFA New Face Model Search Malaysia 2011 - Wafa Johanna de Korte, Soo Xu Ze, Kao Yu Ling, Kurt Chin, and Jane See - held their own during this international debut and made our country proud despite fierce competition given by other young models from Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Mongolia, Korea,  Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam,  and Thailand.

Male & female winners of the Asia New Face Model Contest 2012 - D. Bayartogtokh (Mongolia) & Li Peilin (China)

Li Peilin (from China) and D. Bayartogtokh (from Mongolia) were named the female and male winners respectively of the 2nd Asia New Face Model Contest 2012. However, Malaysia did make her presence felt and brought back a subsidiary title when De Korte won the (female) Traditional Dress Award, for donning a ‘kebaya’ and sarong ensemble. Other subsidiary titles given out at the contest were the Photogenic Award, Popular Award, and Best Dress Award.

(L-R) Jane See, Kurt Chin, Kao Yu Ling, Soo Xu Ze & Wafa Johanna de Korte in their traditional outfits.

Wafa Johanna de Korte receiving the (Female) Traditional Dress Award

Wafa Johanna de Korte

“We (Malaysia) may not have won the contest, but I’m proud to say that we did not come home empty handed. And I’m more than honoured to have received an award that is of international recognition.” 
- De Korte, 17 years old.

The following day, the KMA hosted the main event of the 7th AMFA 2012, where multiple awards of excellence were given out during a gala ceremony, most notably the Asia Model Star Award. Each (Asian) country is entitled to one female and one male Asia Star Model Award and this year, the recipients for Malaysia is the acclaimed beauty queen and model Deborah Henry, as well as model and actor KS Tan. 

Amber Chia, KS Tan & Deborah Henry

Henry and Tan were honoured alongside their peers from Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Mongolia, Indonesia, Japan, China, and Korea. Amongst other prominent figures receiving awards at the 7th AMFA 2012 were renowned Hong Kong singer and actor Leo Ku, and also South Korean girl group KARA.

Deborah Henry & KS Tan receiving their Asia Model Star Awards (Malaysia)

Korean-American recording artist Jay Park

The gala event was infused with further grandiose by star-studded performances by South Korea’s finest. Guests were entertained by girl groups Rainbow and A Pink, boy bands Beast and MBLAQ, singer and actress IU, as well as Korean-American recording artist Jay Park, among others.

Notable faces from the Malaysian entourage spotted  at the event were Chia, homegrown catwalk guru Benjamin Toong, as well as fashion designer and couturier Keith Kee. Chia, as one of the guests of honour, also went on stage to present South Korean girl group Rainbow with the Asia New Star Award. 

Performance by South Korean boy band Beast

Performance by South Korean boy band MBLAQ

Performance by South Korean girl group A Pink

Performance by South Korean girl group Rainbow

South Korean girl group Kara

Amber Chia & Benjamin Toong being interviewed on the red carpet of the 7th Asia Model Festival Awards 2012

New Face Model (Malaysia) Jane See

New Face Model (Malaysia) Kao Yu Ling

New Face Model (Malaysia) Kurt Chin

New Face Model (Malaysia) Soo Xu Ze

New Face Model (Malaysia) Wafa Johanna de Korte

The 7th AMFA 2012 is sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Korea Tourism Organisation, Korean Modeling and Talent Association, Korea Commercial Film Maker Union,  Korean Fashion Association, Korea Broadcasting Actors Association, Republic of Philippines GMA Artist Center, Japan Model Agency Association, China Model Association, China Bentley Culture Development Co. Ltd., and America Global One. 

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