KUALA LUMPUR - Trolled on the Internet for joining Asia’s Top Model (AsNTM), the first ever ethnic Malay participant of the modelling reality TV show has hit back at her critics.
Malaysian model Tuti — real name Nuraini Noor — said she is unperturbed by the cyber-attacks and that she would continue to take the opportunity given to do her best in the competition.
“What really separates us is not skin colour nor [sic] religion. It’s opportunity,” she told British broadcaster BBC which had contacted the model via email.
She added that she is not the type to put “labels” on people, and declared herself to be a modern progressive thinking “citizen of the world” who respects the diverse opinions.
“Different people have different point[s] of view and I am not in control of that. I respect each and everyone’s opinion.
“I don’t like to put labels on anything. I’m a citizen of the world. I’m that kind of girl who chase[s] her dreams,” she said.
Despite being the first Malaysian Malay succeeding in joining the competition, Nuraini’s participation was not well received by some Internet users, ostensibly due to her being a Muslim.
Harsh and rude comments were thrown at her after the local entertainment portal My News Hub shared her advancement in the contest.
Many Internet users asked why the 24-year-old was even allowed to enter the competition despite being a Muslim, as Muslims are supposedly ‘banned’ from entering such competitions where the contestants are required to expose their bodies.
But Nuraini told BBC she was perplexed by the criticism as she never had any problems when she won local modelling competitions.
Nuraini previously won the X Top Model Search Malaysia 2012 and is the winner of the X Walk.
After passing her AsNTM audition, Tuti took to her Instagram and said, “I am proud to say that, Malaysia, this is for you.”
She said as a model, she would continue to do her best in what she does.
“At the end of the day, the ultimate goal is to produce good photos and to fulfil your brief and that’s what I intend to do every time,” she said.
In AsNTM’s Cycle 3, two Malaysian contestants, Shareeta Selvaraj and Melissa Tan Li Hsia — made it into the competition but got eliminated in episode 1 and 7 respectively. - Malay Mail
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