HONG KONG — Twelve finalists vying for the 2026 Miss Hong Kong crown are facing off in a series of outdoor challenges filmed in Hunan province, with the second episode airing tonight featuring a dramatic cheongsam catwalk battle and a swimsuit intelligence test at a cliffside hotel.
The special three-part program, “Miss Hong Kong: The Hunan Journey,” takes the young women to Hengyang, Hunan, where they are guided by former titleholders Fanny Fung (2018 winner), Carmen Wong (2019 winner), and Yan Chan (2020 winner). The group visited the massive immersive film-theater resort at Nanyue as well as a cliffside guesthouse on Mount Heng.
Cheongsam Catwalk Showdown
In the first challenge, the 12 contestants were divided into four teams of three, each donning traditional cheongsam dresses and carrying props they chose themselves. Stage director Kandi and the three former winners served as judges. To ease the tension, the former winners demonstrated their own catwalk techniques before the competition began.
Contestant Yuan Siheng (No. 1) and Wei Xin (No. 5) each carried antique round fans and vintage handbags, delivering dance-like and sharply accentuated catwalk moves that drew immediate attention. Contestant Yan Yifei (No. 11), who also selected an antique fan, offered a softer approach. She gently pulled the fan while reciting the classic Chinese poetic line “hiding half her face behind a pipa,” earning unanimous praise from the judges. They described her performance as “rich in poetic imagery and of an exceptionally high artistic level.”
Swimsuit Quiz at Cliffside Lodge
The second segment took place at a cliffside guesthouse on Mount Heng, where contestants paired up in swimsuits to tackle IQ questions posed by the three former winners.
When asked which animal among a pig, cat, or duck best represents this year’s Miss Hong Kong theme, “Dare to Be Perfect,” contestant Tang Jialin (No. 12) selected the pig, citing the Chinese idiom “zhu yuan yu run” (round and smooth as a pearl, warm and glossy as jade). She argued that fellow contestant Deng Kuangmin (No. 8) embodies that quality and possesses an aura of national peace and prosperity.
Her teammate, Yuan Siheng (No. 1), took a different approach, using character dissection to analyze the Chinese character for duck — composed of the symbols for “first” and “bird” — concluding the duck is the top-grade bird and thus the symbol of perfection.
Broader Implications
The Hunan special marks a shift in the pageant’s format, emphasizing cultural immersion and intellectual agility alongside traditional beauty and poise. The show aims to give viewers a deeper look at the contestants’ personalities under pressure. The final episode will determine who advances closer to the September coronation.
Producers say the challenges reflect a modernized approach to pageantry, where quick thinking and cultural knowledge are as valued as physical presentation. The cliffside venue also draws attention to Hunan’s emerging tourism infrastructure, including luxury accommodations in scenic mountain areas.
The third and final special episode airs next week before the live finale. Contestants will continue to face public voting and panel evaluations as Hong Kong’s entertainment industry watches closely for the next ambassador of grace and intelligence.
