Eight years later, Atitih takes the crown that once slipped away
Published on: Sunday, June 01, 2025
Published on: Sun, Jun 01, 2025
By: Ricardo Unto Text Size: Atitih's determination to stage a comeback was rewarded with victory as she claimed the UNK crown. PENAMPANG: She once stumbled in the pursuit of the crown, but Atitih Yati Robert stood taller this year, rising with grace to be named Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2025. Atitih, representing Tamparuli, emerged victorious over 50 finalists at the grand finale of the State Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan (UNK) 2025 held at the Hongkod Koisaan KDCA Hall here on Saturday. The 26-year-old took home RM17,500 in cash, a tiara, a fully-beaded sash, a trophy, and other sponsored prizes, in a celebration of heritage, beauty, and cultural pride that drew thousands. Tambunan's Elka Alika Pijeh was named first runner-up, receiving RM13,000, a trophy, and sponsored prizes, while Celarin Jenny (Kiulu) took third place with RM10,500 and other prizes. The event marked one of the major highlights of the State-level Kaamatan Festival, which culminates with cultural showcases and pageantry. 'I first joined eight years ago when I was 18, representing Kota Marudu,' said Atitih, who hails from Kota Marudu but chose to represent Tamparuli this year due to her paternal roots. She revealed that her return was deeply personal: 'This victory is significant, not just for me but for all who have supported me – especially those who were disappointed eight years ago.' Back in 2017, Atitih had won the Miss Popular Facebook title, yet did not make it to the Top 7, a result that left many of her supporters disheartened. 'Some even encouraged me to make a comeback. 'They wanted to see me return to the stage, and I carried that spirit with me since then.' Atitih, a graduate of Malay Language Education, recently passed her Education Ministry interview and is awaiting placement to become a teacher. 'This year, I was determined to give my best. 'When I accepted to rejoin the pageant, I devoted myself fully to the process, knowing I had a purpose to fulfil.' Describing her toughest challenge, Atitih said it was managing her weight: 'I used to weigh 70kg and lost almost 10kg in five months – it was a struggle, especially because I love sweets and chocolates. 'I fasted, exercised, and changed my diet. 'There were days I nearly fainted just standing up because I had to reduce my food intake so drastically,' she said. Beyond the physical transformation, Atitih said the past eight years were also spent improving her communication skills and overcoming shyness. 'I was very shy before – still am – but I practised a lot. 'Now I can manage it better because of the confidence I've built over time,' she said. During the final, Atitih wore a traditional costume from Tenghilan called Pinialap, marking the first-time appearance of the attire on the UNK stage. 'My manager suggested I wear it and supported my comeback. He helped me from head to toe.' Atitih also shared a personal glimpse into her family life, revealing she comes from a large household: 'I have 15 siblings.' As the new Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan, Atitih is expected to serve as a cultural ambassador and participate in various engagements under upcoming contracts. 'For now, I am fully committing myself to this role. 'I came back with intention, with heart, and with the hope of honouring those who believed in me," she said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
'Only RM415 for 56,000 views' - M'sian content creator exposes ad revenue per video
THINKING about delving into content creation? Think again, says a Malaysian food-based content creator who recently pointed out that this career does not guarantee overnight success. 'I'm not trying to discourage anyone, but it's important to acknowledge reality,' said well-known content creator Che Nom in a Facebook post. Che Nom reminded those considering a career in online content creation that passion alone is not enough, emphasising the importance of quality and how much it takes to make such online content. 'If you rely solely on revenue from YouTube advertisements, that's not enough,' she said in her post. Che Nom also shared that newcomers, especially those with videos receiving fewer than 3,000 views, may not even earn up to RM2,500. Using one of her own recipe videos as an example, she revealed that it earned only RM415.40 from 56,000 views—even a month after it was posted. 'This recipe was actually difficult to execute – I had to test it multiple times, the ingredients were expensive, and filming the video also took a long time.' She added that the cost of producing five to six videos can range between RM12,000 and RM16,000. Some of the costs listed include: - Videographer: RM2,500 – RM3,500 - Editor: RM2,500 – RM3,000 - Kitchen assistant: RM2,000 – RM2,500 Che Nom also noted that even experienced content creators are struggling to sustain their platforms, especially with more viewers now gravitating towards short-form video platforms like TikTok. 'There are so many content creators now. If your video isn't sharp or the audio isn't clear, viewers will just swipe away. Audiences are more selective these days,' she explained. With that in mind, she advised aspiring creators to diversify their sources of income and never rely solely on ad revenue. Many agreed that content creation is a challenging career path, where the effort often outweighs the reward. One user also pointed out another common challenge content creators face—having their content 'stolen' and reposted by other social media accounts without proper credit, which can negatively affect both viewership and revenue. 'This is absolutely true. There's a lot of effort, cost, and sacrifice behind the scenes that we as viewers don't always see,' one user commented.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Only RM415 for 56K views: M'sian creator exposes ad revenue
THINKING about delving into content creation? Think again, says a Malaysian food-based content creator who recently pointed out that this career does not guarantee overnight success. 'I'm not trying to discourage anyone, but it's important to acknowledge reality,' said well-known content creator Che Nom in a Facebook post. Che Nom reminded those considering a career in online content creation that passion alone is not enough, emphasising the importance of quality and how much it takes to make such online content. 'If you rely solely on revenue from YouTube advertisements, that's not enough,' she said in her post. Che Nom also shared that newcomers, especially those with videos receiving fewer than 3,000 views, may not even earn up to RM2,500. Using one of her own recipe videos as an example, she revealed that it earned only RM415.40 from 56,000 views—even a month after it was posted. 'This recipe was actually difficult to execute – I had to test it multiple times, the ingredients were expensive, and filming the video also took a long time.' She added that the cost of producing five to six videos can range between RM12,000 and RM16,000. Some of the costs listed include: - Videographer: RM2,500 – RM3,500 - Editor: RM2,500 – RM3,000 - Kitchen assistant: RM2,000 – RM2,500 Che Nom also noted that even experienced content creators are struggling to sustain their platforms, especially with more viewers now gravitating towards short-form video platforms like TikTok. 'There are so many content creators now. If your video isn't sharp or the audio isn't clear, viewers will just swipe away. Audiences are more selective these days,' she explained. With that in mind, she advised aspiring creators to diversify their sources of income and never rely solely on ad revenue. Many agreed that content creation is a challenging career path, where the effort often outweighs the reward. One user also pointed out another common challenge content creators face—having their content 'stolen' and reposted by other social media accounts without proper credit, which can negatively affect both viewership and revenue. 'This is absolutely true. There's a lot of effort, cost, and sacrifice behind the scenes that we as viewers don't always see,' one user commented.
Barnama
2 days ago
- Barnama
ROUND 2025 Showcases Unity Through Cultural Exchange
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN-Korea Music Festival (ROUND) 2025 was officially launched here this evening by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, in a vibrant ceremony celebrating unity through music and cultural exchange. The event brought together diplomats, cultural leaders, artists and guests from ASEAN member states and the Republic of Korea, marking a significant milestone in regional cooperation. Khairul Firdaus highlighted the festival's theme, 'Come Around, Here to Shine', as a reflection of Malaysia's commitment to fostering a new model of cultural diplomacy under its ASEAN Chairmanship this year. 'Through the ASEAN-Korea Music Festival, we reaffirm the importance of cultural exchange as a conduit for social cohesion, deepening our mutual understanding and strengthening the bonds between the people of ASEAN and the Republic of Korea,' he said in a statement today. He added that Malaysia continues to prioritise creative and cultural cooperation as a vital tool for people-to-people connectivity and regional development, in line with the spirit of Malaysia MADANI – an inclusive framework promoting sustainability, compassion and mutual respect. The two-day festival, jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and the Korea Broadcasting System (KBS), features performances by acclaimed artists from both ASEAN and Korea. Meanwhile, Republic of Korea Ambassador to Malaysia Yeo Seung-bae, said the festival comes at an opportune time as Korea hosts APEC and Malaysia chairs ASEAN in 2025. 'Korea's hosting of APEC and Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship this year offer a timely and valuable opportunity to elevate our cooperation to the next level. 'Building on this shared vision at the leadership level, our two countries are set to pursue a broad range of collaborative initiatives with cultural exchange taking centre stage,' he said.
