Kuala lumpur: Inspired by the scenic surroundings of Titiwangsa Lake Gardens, a senior citizen walked away with the best costume award at the HAWANA 2026 Fun Walk today after impressing judges with her flower garden-themed outfit. Noorsiah Yusoff, 69, better known as Mami Nor, caught the attention of participants and visitors with her unique outfit adorned with butterflies and floral accessories, as well as colourful lights that complemented the theme.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the single mother, who earns a living selling children's toys, said the idea for the costume came spontaneously after she took inspiration from the event venue. "I was inspired by the garden surroundings here and used mostly materials that I already had at home to create this costume. I joined the programme simply to have fun and meet people. Winning came as a complete surprise because I finished the outfit just a day before the event," she told Bernama.
Noorsiah, who lives in Setapak, said she is no stranger to costume competitions held in conjunction with running and fun walk events, having won several awards in the past. Besides Noorsiah, friends Noraini Sulaiman, 48, and Sarinah Untong, 36, also drew attention with their FIFA World Cup-themed costumes, which they crafted themselves using recycled materials from home.
Noraini said the idea was conceived to add to the festive atmosphere of the programme while showcasing a unique and creative design created with minimal resources. "We made everything ourselves using materials we already had at home. The total cost was less than RM10," she said. The bank officer said that although they only learned about the costume competition a day before the event, time constraints did not stop them from getting creative and taking part enthusiastically.
"We came to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the programme. The competition simply added to the fun," she said. The lively atmosphere of the HAWANA 2026 Fun Walk was further enhanced by a variety of other eye-catching costumes, including those inspired by flight attendants, kaftans and anime characters, which attracted the attention of visitors around the lake grounds. The programme not only promoted a healthy lifestyle through the 2.6-kilometre walk, but also served as a platform that brought together people from diverse backgrounds in a relaxed, friendly and colourful setting.