The Miss Hong Kong pageant is not just a beauty contest, it opens doors for the winner. TVB, the pageant’s organiser, usually offers career options like acting, singing, advertising and marketing.
While most winners take their title seriously, the winner for 2008, Edelweiss Cheung Shu-nga (張舒雅) was fired when she failed to uphold her duties.
Cheung was 22 when she won the pageant. She was known for being one of the tallest competitors in the history of the pageant. Shortly after winning the crown, paparazzi caught Cheung smoking, and kissing her boyfriend in public. TVB, the organiser of the pageant froze Cheung’s contract as such behaviour was considered unfitting for a Miss Hong Kong winner. Cheung also apparently did not carry out her responsibilities as Miss Hong Kong that year.
One of the roles of Miss Hong Kong is to crown the following year’s winner. However, TVB banned Cheung from the ritual. One spokesman said, “We won’t have her in the show to avoid embarrassment.” As such, she is the only winner of Miss Hong Kong to not crown her successor. With TVB shutting the door in her face, one would think she would be devastated by losing job opportunities. Fortunately, Cheung comes from a wealthy family.
12 years after the incident and her stint of being a model, she has inherited the Edelweiss Jewelry company. The company is worth about RM53 million. According to China Press, she studied jewelry design and is now running a jewelry shop at home. Her business ventures don’t stop there, Cheung is also opening a joint venture bar with her friends.
Cheung’s social media is filled with selfies taken during her travels. Some of her photos show her in swimsuits, showcasing why she won Miss Hong Kong in 2008. Her figure is well maintained and many netizens were quick to comment on how good she looked. One netizen even called her a “Goddess“.
The world certainly didn’t stop for this Miss Hong Kong after the fiasco with her title.
Sources: China Press, Jayne Stars, South China Morning Post
