Nurul Zuriantie Shamsul mengharumkan nama negara apabila menduduki tempat kelima dalam pertandingan ratu cantik Miss Universe Malaysia New Zealand 2018.

Berkongsi pengalamannya, Nurul akui pernah berdepan detik sukar sepanjang empat bulan pertandingan itu berlangsung.

"Sepanjang empat bulan ini menjadi waktu paling sukar saya, ada perkara yang berlaku bukan seperti yang saya mahukan tetapi selepas itu pasti akan ada sesuatu yang manis.

"Alhamdulillah, selepas saya habis menangis saya rasa sangat tenang dan kembali bersemangat," katanya.

Kata Nurul, ketika berada di pentas akhir Miss Universe New Zealand, dia tidak rasa gementar sebaliknya sangat teruja.

"Saya tahu apa juga yang berlaku di atas pentas ia sudah tertulis sebagai suratan Ilahi.

"Jadi, ketika di pentas akhir saya langsung tidak gementar sebaliknya sangat teruja!

"Miss Universe New Zealand merupakan pengalaman yang sangat bermakna bagi saya," tambahnya.

Alhamdulillah. When I became a finalist, I wrote a letter to God. For months I would be praying the same thing and on the day of the Grand Finals I opened up the Quran and everything that I have been praying for for the past four months, Allah has answered back to me in the verses that followed. Subhanallah. I have never experienced anything so beautiful in my life before. I remember reading it and crying because He reminded me again that he is always with me, guiding me and protecting me. These past four months has been the most difficult. There were so many things that didn’t go my way but each time it did, something much better came around. Alhamdulillah. After I finished crying I felt so calm and content. I knew that whatever happens on that stage, it was for the best because God has written greater things for me. So when I was on stage for the Grand Finals I wasn’t nervous at all, I was actually super excited! Miss Universe New Zealand has been an amazing experience, one I will always be grateful for and will never forget. I have grown so much as a woman and it has opened so many opportunities already. Alhamdulillah. Always renew your intentions. Have full faith and Tawakkul. Your prayers are being heard. And no matter what happens, just remember that Allah is either protecting you or there is something better that He has planned for you! May Allah ease our affairs, grant us happiness, success and peace. Amiin! “And hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector- The best to protect And the Best to help!” Quran (Al Hajj) 22:78 ???

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Anak kelahiran Ampang, Selangor ini antara 20 finalis yang berjaya mara ke peringkat akhir pertandingan itu.

Peringkat akhir pertandingan itu berlangsung pada Sabtu malam waktu Malaysia dan disiarkan secara langsung di laman Facebook Miss Universe New Zealand.

Nurul yang berpindah ke New Zealand ketika berusia lima tahun ini kelihatan anggun berhijab warna emas dan menyarungkan busana berperincian rona yang sama.

Nurul merupakan satu-satunya peserta Asia, beragama Islam dan bertudung. Dia juga mencatat sejarah sebagai peserta bertudung pertama berjaya mara ke pentas akhir pertandingan ratu cantik itu di New Zealand.

Alhamdulillah for 5th place! Thank you to everyone for all of the love and support! It means so much me! This is only the beginning and I can’t wait for what Allah has planned for me!!! Today is also my 21st birthday so I am off to my next journey in life! ???

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A month ago I was announced as a finalist for Miss Universe New Zealand. I remember the feelings I had before and after the announcement. I prayed that if this opportunity is good for me and my religion, then I wanted God to let it happen. If it wasn’t, then I wanted Him to turn me away from it. Now a couple weeks into the journey and I can tell you that it hasn’t always been easy. But in saying that, I’ve already grown so much as a person. Just never give up. It’s all about trusting that everything will be okay because He knows better. Alhamdulillah, I’m also super grateful for all the love and support so far. I hope that my intentions will always be kept pure and I will try my absolute best to fulfil them, insyaAllah. Also, don’t forget to vote for me, link is in bio. ? #missuniverse #missuniversenewzealand #roadtomissuniverse #journeytomissuniverse

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Assalamualaikum! Besok ade Grand Finals dekat New Zealand! Jagan lupa vote untuk saya dengan jagan lupa tengok saya LIVE 8pm NZ time at Miss Universe New Zealand Facebook page! Boleh vote pakai link dekat bio! ✨✨✨ #missuniversenewzealand #missuniverse

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The Miss Universe Retreat to Thailand was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. One of the highlights was getting to know the rest of the contestants and I am so excited to be re-united with them next week! Read about the retreat on my latest blog post. Link is in my Instagram story. ✨ #missuniversenewzealand #missuniverse

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Sementara itu, peserta berusia 27 tahun, Estelle Curd dimahkotakan sebagai pemenang Miss Universe New Zealand 2018, sekali gus mewakili negara itu bagi pertandingan Miss Universe ke-67 yang bakal berlangsung di Bangkok, akhir tahun ini.

Teks oleh: Amri Hassan
Foto: @nurulzbshamsul