Margaret Riba never imagined herself as a beauty queen — until she dared to step beyond the life she had always known. From a devoted mother to the crowned Mrs Elite Petite Global 2025, her story is a powerful reminder that dreams have no expiration date.
Dreams don’t end with motherhood
Margaret Riba never imagined she would one day wear a crown.
As she stood on the grand stage of Mrs Petite Global 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, the spotlight catching the shimmer of her gown, she felt an overwhelming sense of déjà vu.
She had been here before — not on this stage, not under these lights, but in a moment of reckoning — the kind that forces a person to choose: stay in the comfort of what is familiar or step into the unknown.
At 37, Margaret was many things — a mother, a wife, a Mary Kay senior beauty consultant, and a woman who had spent most of her life prioritising others.
Pageantry had never been on her list of ambitions. But there she was, standing alongside finalists from across Asia, her heart pounding as the host prepared to announce the winner.
The moment the words “Mrs Elite Petite Global 2025 is… Margaret Riba from Borneo!” rang through the auditorium, she felt the weight of everything that had led her here. The sacrifices. The self-doubt. The quiet dreams she had once convinced herself were too distant to reach.
This was not just a victory. It was a homecoming — to the woman she had once silenced, now finally stepping into her own light.
The queen within
Margaret was born and raised in Kapit, a place where traditions run deep and family is everything.
As an Iban woman, she grew up surrounded by stories of resilience — of ancestors who navigated rivers to build better lives, of women who held communities together with their quiet strength.
Like many young women in her hometown, Margaret followed the expected path. She married, started a family, and dedicated herself to raising her children.
Life was full, yet a quiet voice inside her asked — was she meant for more?
It wasn’t that she was unhappy. But she had always believed that women — whether mothers, housewives, or professionals — deserved to be more than just the roles they played.
Her work as a beauty consultant brought her closer to this truth. In hospital corridors, where she helped nurses and female healthcare workers rediscover their confidence through skincare and self-care, she saw firsthand how easy it was for women to put themselves last.
Margaret knew this feeling.
“I used to be an introvert. But through my work, I found myself becoming more open, more free. I realised how much women need to be reminded of their worth — because we often forget,” she told Sarawak Tribune.
But recognising a pattern and breaking free from it were two different things.
From doubt to dare
When Margaret first heard about Mrs Petite Global, she dismissed the idea — “A pageant? For someone like me?”
The idea of stepping out of her comfort zone felt impossible. But then she asked herself the question that changed everything: “If not now, then when?”
Her three children were growing up. Her responsibilities would never end. If she kept waiting for the right time, it would never come. So, she did the unthinkable. She signed up.
Stepping into the pageant world was nothing like what Margaret had known.
She had to learn to walk — not just in heels, but with the kind of confidence that commanded attention. She had to practise public speaking, refining her voice so that when she spoke about her advocacy for women’s health and self-worth, people listened.
But the hardest part? Leaving her children behind for a week to compete.
The night before she left for Kuala Lumpur, doubt crept in. She stood in her bedroom, staring at the packed suitcase, wondering if she was making a mistake.
“I kept thinking, am I being selfish?” she said.
Then, her second child hugged her and said, “Mum, you always tell us to be brave. Now it’s your turn.”
Those words carried her through every moment of the competition.
The crown-worthy moment
Pageantry is often misunderstood as a celebration of vanity. But as Margaret stood backstage, watching women from across Asia share their stories — of overcoming loss, of rebuilding lives after heartbreak, of fighting for their dreams — she realised something.
“This was not just a contest. It was a testament to the strength of women who refuse to be boxed in by circumstances,” she pointed out.
The defining moment came not when she was on stage, but in the quiet of her own heart. It was when she looked into the mirror and, for the first time in a long time, saw herself fully.
Not just as a mother. Not just as a wife. But as a woman with dreams. A woman who had taken a chance on herself.
“When they announced my name, I didn’t cry. I smiled. Because at that moment, I knew — I had finally stepped into my power,” she added.
Crowned, but unstoppable
Winning Mrs Elite Petite Global 2025 was never just about the title for Margaret. It was about what came next.
With her platform, she plans to expand her work in women’s health advocacy, focusing on self-confidence and empowerment programmes.
Her goal? To reach housewives, single mothers, and working women who feel invisible.
“I want women to know that we are not just the roles we play. We are more than mothers, wives, or employees. We are individuals with our own dreams, and we deserve to pursue them without guilt,” she said firmly.
She is also passionate about supporting cultural and community-driven platforms, such as Pesta Ratu Menuai and Anak Borneo Semenanjung.
“I support these platforms because I want to help others achieve their dreams. It’s not just about me — it’s about uplifting my community,” she explained.
If she could go back in time and speak to the girl who once doubted herself, Margaret would say this:
“The problems you fear today will seem small tomorrow. Don’t be afraid to take chances. You are stronger than you think. And one day, you will stand on a stage — not just as a contestant, but as a woman who has found her voice.”
This is not just a story of winning a crown. It is about the quiet, personal revolutions that unfold when a woman dares to choose herself.
It is about proving that housewives can be queens, mothers can be leaders, and that dreams don’t come with an expiration date.
Most of all, it is about daring to take up space, own your story, and step into the life you were always meant to live.
