HONG KONG — A dozen candidates vying for the 2026 Miss Hong Kong crown gathered Wednesday for a product-sharing event hosted by businesswoman and former beauty queen Cally Kwong, who urged them to stay calm and enjoy the final competition next month.
Kwong, a 1980s Miss Hong Kong alumna now serving as the distributor of a bottled water brand in Hong Kong and Macau, brought the 12 finalists together for the promotional appearance. She praised the group as “young, beautiful and energetic” but declined to name a favorite, citing fairness. Instead, Kwong offered advice drawn from her own pageant experience: “The most important thing is to be composed and to enjoy the process. That way you can perform at your best.”
Kwong, who also runs a jewelry business alongside her water distribution role, said she finds energy in her work rather than fatigue. “I enjoy what I do, so I have endless energy,” she said. Now older, she acknowledged that maintaining a slim figure has become more difficult and stressed that health matters most.
The Miss Hong Kong final is scheduled for late next month. Several candidates used the event to share personal updates.
Contestant No. 2, Li Zexin, confirmed she is in a relationship with a chiropractor who supports her pageant journey. She said he has been “eating lettuce salads with me” to encourage her dieting efforts. “I’m working hard to trim my tummy. I don’t want to have a protruding belly at the final,” Li said.
No. 11, Yan Yifei, said she has been dating her boyfriend for 18 months, noting that he has helped with logistics and transportation throughout the competition. “He takes care of everything. I feel very warm,” she said. Yan and contestant No. 4, Tan Yawen, both expressed confidence in their figures and said they have not needed to diet. Tan jokingly called herself a “snack monster,” adding that she shares seaweed and fruit with other candidates during rehearsals.
Contestant No. 10, Chen Ziying, who has played the guzheng, a traditional Chinese string instrument, since childhood, said she will use that skill for her talent performance. She revealed that her boyfriend of four years is caring for her cats and dogs at her family home in Canada while she competes. No. 1, Yuan Siheng, who has more than 20 years of dance experience, also plans to perform her specialty.
No. 5, Wei Xin, admitted that balancing figure maintenance and talent training has been tiring. No. 6, Lu Weiqing, said she wants to improve her public speaking and noted that both she and Wei plan to seek advice from Kwong. Lu, who described her romantic status as “A0” (single and never dated), disclosed that she once aspired to become a nun after being influenced by her school. She now aims to become a lawyer to help disadvantaged groups and said she is in no rush to date.
The event offered a glimpse into the candidates’ diverse backgrounds and personalities as they prepare for the final showdown. Kwong’s participation as a sponsor underscores the enduring link between former titleholders and the pageant’s next generation, reflecting a tradition of mentorship and business networking in Hong Kong’s entertainment industry.
