From JB To Cannes, Reshma Prakash Brings Malaysia To The Global Stage
KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) -- For many, the Cannes Film Festival symbolises glamour and prestige, but for Malaysian psychologist and medical entrepreneur Reshma Prakash, her debut on the iconic red carpet this year represented far more than a fashion statement.
The fashion model, who emerged as third runner-up at the Mrs Universe 2025 beauty pageant in Manila last October, described attending the prestigious film festival as a surreal and meaningful experience.
“Walking the Cannes red carpet for the first time was truly an honour. It was not just a personal achievement but a proud moment for me to represent Malaysia internationally,” she told Bernama.
Reshma attended the 79th Cannes Film Festival on May 17 and spent five days in Cannes, France, where she watched film screenings inside festival theatres and networked with international guests from the entertainment, fashion and business industries.
She said the opportunity to attend the event came following her success at the Mrs Universe 2025 pageant.
“At the pageant, I represented the whole of Asia,” she said, adding that the opportunity to attend the Cannes Film Festival was made possible through UMB Pageants chief executive officer Urmimala Boruah and her national directors.
Despite the presence of many global celebrities in Cannes, she said guests carried themselves professionally and respectfully throughout the event.
For her Cannes debut, Reshma wore “In The Dark Waves”, a couture creation by Vietnamese designer Minh Tuan Couture and inspired by timeless elegance, feminine strength and the movement of waves in the night ocean.
The gown featured hand-attached three-dimensional embellishments and a pleated velvet skirt that flowed gracefully with every step, symbolising the confidence, grace and strength of the modern woman.
“Through my presence in Cannes, I wanted to represent Malaysian women as graceful, empowered and capable of standing confidently on the global stage,” she said.
Beyond the glamour of Cannes and pageantry, Reshma’s journey was shaped by personal struggles and perseverance. Born in Segamat, Johor, and now based in Johor Bahru, she was raised by a single mother after losing her father when she was just nine months old.
She said watching her mother work tirelessly as a dialysis nurse to raise her and her older sister inspired her to succeed despite financial hardship and the bullying she endured during her younger years.
Armed with a double degree in psychology from a local university, Reshma built her career as a psychologist and medical entrepreneur, managing clinics, dialysis centres and healthcare facilities across Malaysia while balancing her responsibilities as a wife and mother of three, including a pair of twins.
“My husband (Dr Raymond Rony) is my backbone and greatest strength. This Cannes journey is not only my personal achievement, but also a proud moment for everyone who supported and believed in me throughout the years,” she said.
-- BERNAMA
