Unduk Ngadau

Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan is a beauty pageant held annually during the Kaamatan cultural event in Sabah, Malaysia.

The Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant is held to commemorate the spirit of Huminodun, a mythological character of unparalleled beauty said to have given her life in exchange for a bountiful harvest for her community. She was the sacrificed daughter of the Kadazandusun spirits, Kinorohingan and Suminundu.

The title comes from the ethnic words Runduk Tadau which mean 'the girl crowned by the sunlight'. Unduk Ngadau is one of the most recognisable cultural events in Sabah and the beauty pageant is unique to the state. In Rungus Language, Runduk means "to communicate", and Tadau means "the Sun". Thus, Unduk Ngadau translates to communicate with Sundu (Kinorohingan) or God asking for blessing of sunlight.

Joanna Kitingan (chairperson of UNK) said, “the Unduk Ngadau winner is supposed to be able to exude a high degree of moral because they are representing the Kadazan, Dusun and Murut women. We are also looking at a winner who can be the role model to the younger generation and has a spirit of voluntarism in being willing to sacrifice her time for the community, besides being intelligent to ably present our country, culture and tourism to the world."

Before the official title was changed, the pageant was called Miss Kadazan in the 60s, Miss Harvest Festival in the 70s and Ratu Pesta Menuai from 1980 to 1986. The title Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan began to be used from 1987 until present.

Some districts hold joint pageants which produce more than one representative. Notably, Tuaran and Tamparuli hold a joint pageant with the winner going on to representing Tuaran, and the first runner-up representing Tamparuli.

Beginning in 1995, Sabahans residing in Peninsular Malaysia have been allowed to participate in the state pageant by representing Klang Valley. The first representative from Klang Valley was Daphne M. Iking in 2003. Then in the following year, Janeitha Stephen was a representative from Klang Valley, placed as the first runner up to Tamparuli's Fharelynne Ivonne Henry in 2004. Many of the Klang Valley representatives had their best placement in the competition: 2001(2nd runner up), 2005(4th runner up), 2007(6th runner up), 2008(6th runner up), 2013(5th runner up), 2014(6th runner up), 2016(5th runner up) and 2017(5th runner up). In 2014, the state of Johor in Peninsular Malaysia has been included in the list for the final competition with condition the representative is of Sabahan KDM descent.

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