Clips of contestants from mainland China attempting to speak Cantonese have gone viral, sparking criticism and discussions about cultural identity.
Proficiency in Cantonese has drawn widespread attention after a mainland Chinese participant in a renowned Hong Kong beauty pageant described her challenges in learning the language. This has led a talent group to call for greater inclusivity as the city works to safeguard its cultural heritage.
A political analyst noted that it was unnecessary to fixate solely on contestants’ Cantonese fluency. Instead, the analyst suggested the organizer could incorporate more local elements into the competition to enhance cultural representation, such as offering education on Hong Kong’s traditions.
The Miss Hong Kong Pageant is a major televised event hosted by TVB, the city’s largest free-to-air broadcaster. Auditions for this year’s competition are currently underway.
A contestant, identified by her surname Wen, told the judging panel during her second-round audition on Wednesday that she was diligently learning Cantonese, repeatedly attempting to correctly pronounce "tomato sauce" and "beef brisket noodles."
Internet users widely shared clips of the contestants, sparking heated debates over Wen’s pronunciation. Some criticized her Cantonese as awkward, with one user mimicking her audition video on social media and questioning why she applied for the contest without knowing the local language.
Another contestant, who returned from the United Kingdom for the audition, also appeared less fluent in Cantonese, asking the judges to pose questions in English.