The Miss Hong Kong pageant runner-up who was big winner when victor’s crown slipped, and how it changed her life

2008 contest winner Edelweiss Cheung’s contract was frozen after she was photographed smoking and kissing her boyfriend in public. Runner-up Skye Chan had to step into the role, and it kick-started her television career

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The Miss Hong Kong Pageant 2008 winner, Edelweiss Cheung (centre), stands next to Skye Chan (left) who would later go on to takeover her duties, and second runner-up Samantha Ko (right). Photo: Oliver Tsang

Published: 7:45am, 17 May 2018Updated: 11:01am, 21 May 2018

It’s been a decade since Skye Chan Sin-yeung was crowned first runner-up in the Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant, only to find herself becoming the de facto winner.

Edelweiss Cheung took the crown in 2008, but pageant organiser TVB froze Cheung’s contract following criticism of her behaviour in public, which it deemed unfit for a Miss Hong Kong champion.

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Asked how she felt about officially placing second that July evening, Chan, now 34, says she was surprised because it was a competitive line-up. “And I was just way too innocent about how to make myself look better and shine on stage,” she says.

That’s why she can’t bear to look back at the photos taken of her 10 years ago. “I just had no idea about make-up, hairstyling, posture and all those pageant practises,” she says.

Chan is the face of a new cooking show, and hosts a health show on RTHK Radio 1 every Tuesday. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Chan assumed the winner’s duties after Cheung became the victim of bad publicity. A university student, and one of the tallest competitors in the history of the pageant at 180cm, Cheung was photographed by paparazzi smoking and kissing her boyfriend in public, and went into hiding.

TVB explained Cheung’s absence from the limelight by saying she was ill, but Cheung later denied that.