But that’s not stopping this bubbly beauty queen from eyeing the world title in Mexico later this year if she can raise the funds to cover all the expenses for the pageant.
More fondly known as Kimi to family and friends, this 31-year-old was crowned Miss Malaysia Wheelchair World in 2018. She is now appealing to fellow Malaysians to help her raise the funds she needs to represent her country at the international stage on Oct 23.
“I have set up a crowdfunding page to raise RM30,000 which will be needed to cover the flight tickets and other expenses for both myself and my caretaker,” Kimi said.
Speaking to FMT recently about how she found herself in a wheelchair at just 17 years old, Kimi said she was hit by a drunk driver while standing by the roadside when a friend came to pick her up on a motorcycle.
“I was putting on my helmet when we were hit out of nowhere,” she shared, recounting the traumatic events that took place that day.
Kimi suffered multiple injuries including a fractured spinal cord which left her paralysed from the waist down. “It felt so surreal and took some time for me to fully grasp that I will never be able to walk again.
“It was a huge adjustment as I had to learn everything from scratch and find myself again, but I am very grateful and blessed to be surrounded by family and friends that have supported me and been by my side constantly.”
As difficult as her new reality was, Kimi was determined not to let her disability define her. She decided that she was still going to chase her dreams no matter how big or small they were.
And that’s precisely what she did.
Today, besides being the first wheelchair-bound beauty queen in Malaysia, the gusty Kimi is also an entrepreneur, writer and singer.
She currently works full-time as a client executive selling e-learning programmes and is also running her own business called Decode of Fragrance where she sells organic perfume.
In June 2017, she published her first book titled “Wheels of Success”.
“The protagonist in the story is also wheelchair-bound after a tragic accident but that is where the similarities end,” she said laughing, adding that it is a love story and completely a work of fiction.
Speaking about her participation in beauty pageants, once in 2018 and again in 2019 where she was crowned Miss Charity Queen, Kimi said, “Being on stage made me feel powerful and confident as I was always used to people staring at me because I was in a wheelchair, not because I was a star.
“I hope that I will be able to inspire other disabled women and show them that their condition does not define them or their worth.”
Despite all the hard knocks in her life, Kimi said she would not change a thing, even her injury, as these events have made her who she is today – “someone much stronger and determined to make the most out of life.”
She said she had her heart set on going to Mexico as it would give her the opportunity to live her dream as well as be an inspiration to others like her.
“Being a part of the pageant has given me the platform and voice to shine light on people with disabilities and the ability to inspire other women out there in similar situations as me.”
For those wishing to see Kimi live her dream in Mexico, head over to her GivingHub page and donate what you can. You can also follow Kimi on Instagram for updates on her journey.