Sharwita shines at Cannes: Malaysian model champions sustainable fashion and global artistry
KUALA LUMPUR, June 7— Malaysian model and fashion entrepreneur Sharminidevi Parameispran, better known as Sharwita, has returned from her second appearance at the Cannes Film Festival with renewed aspirations to position Malaysia as a global hub for fashion, film, and sustainable development.
Sharwita, who graced the red carpet at the premiere of the Japanese film Exit 8 on May 18 during the 78th Cannes Film Festival in France, also drew international attention to Malaysian craftsmanship through her collaborations with prominent designers and brands, including The Atelier by Prof Datuk Jimmy Choo and Malaysian jewellery retailer Thamarai Jewels.
'As a proud Malaysian, I want to build a bridge between our fashion and tourism industries and the global creative scene. We have the talent, culture, and potential to become a fashion capital of Southeast Asia,' she told Bernama in an interview recently.
She stunned on the red carpet in a custom gown by Jimmy Choo's The Atelier and adorned herself with an exclusive diamond-studded necklace, earrings, bracelet, and ring from Thamarai Jewels' Celestia Radiant Collection, created specifically for her Cannes appearance.
Thamarai Jewels' chief financial and strategic officer, Amjad Ashraf Abdul Rakesh, said Cannes provided an ideal platform to showcase Malaysian artistry on a global scale.
'Thamarai Jewels is honoured to be the official jewellery partner for our Brand Ambassador, Sharwita. Cannes symbolises elegance and exclusivity, which are values that mirror our brand,' he said.
He added that the specially designed set of ornaments worn by Sharwita was not displayed elsewhere and attracted interest from international media.
'She was our inspiration. Even global outlets asked about the jewellery she wore. Sharwita is the first Malaysian to showcase an Indian-inspired jewellery brand at a global event,' he said.
Sharwita's time in France included being featured on Getty Images, participating as a showstopper in a red carpet fashion event on May 20, and attending an exclusive superyacht networking session in Monaco, overlooking the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit.
Sharwita, stunned on the red carpet in a custom gown by Jimmy Choo's The Atelier and adorned herself with an exclusive diamond-studded necklace, earrings, bracelet, and ring from Thamarai Jewels' Celestia Radiant Collection. — Picture via Instagram
She also connected with Indian actor and model Taha Shah Badussha, who is part of the cast of Heeramandi, a 2024 Hindi-language period drama series streamed by Netflix.
'Taha Shah told me he would love to visit Malaysia and promote our country. It was truly an honour to see our nation's appeal recognised,' she said.
Among the key milestones during her Cannes outing was her appointment as Malaysia's Brand Ambassador for Wealth Global Partner, a UK-based organisation promoting sustainable development.
'I will advocate for sustainability in fashion through design ethics, eco-materials, and responsible production,' she said.
Sharwita is also working on establishing a fashion tourism forum under her brand Le Fashion Secret to empower local talents, including grassroots designers and aspiring models.
'My aim is to create an ecosystem that links Malaysian talent with global designers, media, and fashion houses,' she said.
'This initiative is timely as Malaysia is the ASEAN Chair for 2025 and is preparing to host Visit Malaysia Year 2026. More than glamour, Cannes gave me global visibility and a responsibility to open doors for the next generation of Malaysians in the fashion and creative industries,' she added. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
HIGHLIGHT's 2025 Kuala Lumpur concert moved to earlier time
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 — K-pop group HIGHLIGHT will perform in Malaysia on Saturday, September 27, at Idea Live Arena as part of their highly anticipated RIDE OR DIE tour, as previously announced on May 19. The concert time has been moved to an earlier slot of 4.30pm, from the originally scheduled 8.00pm, according to an update shared today by promoter GME International on their official X (formerly Twitter) account. The RIDE OR DIE tour will also include stops in Seoul, Taipei, Macau, Manila, Tokyo, and Bangkok, before concluding in Kuala Lumpur. HIGHLIGHT, currently comprising four members — Yoon Doo-joon, Yang Yo-seob, Lee Gi-kwang, and Son Dong-woon — first captured fans' hearts under their original name, BEAST, debuting in 2009 under Cube Entertainment. The group was initially a six-member band before the departure of Jang Hyun-seung. In 2016, the remaining members left their agency and subsequently parted ways with the BEAST name. The group rebranded as HIGHLIGHT the following year, signing with Around Us Entertainment. Yong Jun-hyung later departed from the group in 2019. Since their re-debut as HIGHLIGHT, they have continued to grow in popularity, releasing several hit songs including It's Still Beautiful, Take Care, BODY, Switch On, and their latest single, Chains. This will mark the group's third visit to Malaysia and their second as HIGHLIGHT, following their previous performance at the K-Wave Music Festival in 2017, held at Surf Beach, Sunway Lagoon. For details about HIGHLIGHT's upcoming visit to Malaysia and ticket sales, fans are advised to check the group's official social media channels or GME International's X account. [UPDATE] HIGHLIGHT [RIDE OR DIE] in MALAYSIA 2025 Concert Time Change After careful consideration and taking into account your feedback, we have decided to reschedule the concert timing to 4:30PM. Kindly refer to the latest poster for the updated show details. — GME International (@mygmegroup) June 23, 2025
Malay Mail
8 hours ago
- Malay Mail
After over 20 years, 90s Malaysian girl group Elite to hold first solo concert this September
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 – Popular 90s Malaysian girl group Elite are reuniting for a solo concert in conjunction with their 30th anniversary. This will be their first solo concert in over 20 years and is set to take place at Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on September 20. Organised by Icon Entertainment, the Elite Live '25 concert will feature all five original members — Abby Abadi, Azza Zawari, Linda Rafar, Watie Sadali, and Sasha Saidin — taking centre stage this September. According to Linda, the decision to hold a solo concert came after the warm reception they received during the GenKRU concert at Axiata Arena in May, where the group made a surprise appearance during one of the four-day shows. 'Actually, we were a bit nervous because, as you all know, it's been quite a while since we performed live together, especially on a large scale. 'When we received the offer from Icon Entertainment, we had mixed feelings at first but eventually agreed to it. 'This was after taking into consideration that some of our songs are still favoured and relevant, and we want to party with all our fans — both old and new,' Linda said. Formed in 1995, Elite was the first act signed under KRU Records. Over five years with the label, they released several albums including Catwalk, Tamparan, Idola, Selamat Tinggal Teman, G.I.G, and Merbahaya. The theme for Elite Live '25 is Catwalk, and fans are encouraged to dress their best as there will also be a red carpet session. Tickets for Elite Live '25 will go on sale starting June 26 at 2pm, with prices ranging from RM268 to RM1,088. For more ticketing information, please visit
Malay Mail
16 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Fazura launches new single ‘Luar Biasa' with message of resilience, composed by Indonesia's Ade Govinda
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 — Following the success of the duet 'Raya Pum Pang' with Syasya Rizal, which gained popularity even in Indonesia, popular actress and entrepreneur Fazura is back with a new single titled 'Luar Biasa'. What makes this song interesting is that it carries a message of strength and personal resurgence. A collaboration between Fazura Studios and Universal Music Malaysia, the song is composed entirely by Indonesian singer-songwriter Ade Govinda. The 41-year-old singer, whose full name is Nur Fazura Sharifuddin, said the collaboration began after a brief online discussion that led to a creative process that took less than a week. 'Through a Zoom session, I immediately explained the concept of the song I wanted. I wanted something that could uplift the spirit — not a heartbreak song. Something suitable to listen to in the morning while driving, something inspirational,' she told reporters at the recent launch of her new song's music video here. According to Fazura, what pleased her most was that the lyrics, written by Ade along with Veron Savanoah, required no changes as they perfectly conveyed the message she wanted to deliver. The core theme of the song is 'Failing is normal but rising is extraordinary'. The 'Pendekar Awang: Darah Indera Gajah' actress also admitted to leaning more toward songs that empower, even though heartbreak songs usually receive more attention. 'As a woman, I think it's important for us to listen to songs that lift our spirits. If we listen to too many sad songs, we can get lost in our own emotions,' she said. Meanwhile, Ade Govinda described Fazura as approachable, professional and easy to work with in any situation. 'She's very down-to-earth and when she's working, her mood quickly turns positive. She's punctual, quick and easy to manage,' he said. — Bernama
