EIGHTEEN contestants of the inaugural Miss Cosmopolitan World beauty pageant made heads turn when they visited the Star Property Fair at the Queensbay Mall, Penang.

The contestants clad in casual wear gave the thumbs up when visiting the booths and listening to the property talks during the last day of the fair.

They were in Penang since Friday and will be taking part in the international Miss Cosmopolitan World 2015 beauty pageant in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

Receptionist Rachel Harradence, 26, from Auckland, New Zealand, said this was her first time visiting Penang.

“The food is amazing and the property fair is really informative.

“Properties in Auckland cost a lot and a medium-cost house in Auckland can fetch up to NZ$1mil (RM2.84mil). People are finding it hard to buy a home in New Zealand as they have to place a 25% deposit,” she said.

Cathay Pacific flight attendant Monique Song, 27, who is representing South Korea, said Penang had a lot of growth potential for development.

“I am based in Hong Kong and the rental for my 500sq ft studio apartment is US$3,800 (RM16,767).

“Buying a property in Hong Kong is like a dream as the prices of properties are just way too high,” she added.

Beauty pageant organiser Amelia Liew of Amelia Production said the contestants, aged between 18 and 27, would be returning to Kuala Lumpur to prepare for the Miss Cosmopolitan World.

“The contestants are from New Zealand, South Korea, England, Myanmar, Peru, Cambodia, Albania, Taiwan, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Croatia, Portugal, Bangladesh, India, Australia and Malaysia.”

Meanwhile, numerous potential homebuyers were spoilt for choice when looking for their homes at the fair.

IT manager Teh Min Kiap, 45, said he was looking for a condominium unit that comes with state-of-the-art facilities on the island.

“I love jogging and running, and living in a place that is surrounded by gym facilities will do me a world of good.”

Teh, who came with his wife Pauline Ang and son Warren Teh, said he was fond of the Tropicana 218 Macalister project in Macalister Road as the location and facilities were ideal for his family.

Engineer Yeoh Wei Liang, 24, and his girlfriend Tan Pei Shan, 24, were among the property hunters who came looking for the best bargain.

Yeoh said he was looking for his first home, preferably a landed property on the mainland.

He stays with his parents in Seberang Jaya at the moment, and is working at a factory in the Free Industrial Zone in Bayan Lepas.

Tan, from Sungai Petani, also works at a factory in the same area and is renting a place on the island.

“Our ideal home is a landed property with plenty of space, either in Seberang Jaya or Bukit Mertajam.

“There are many options available here.

“They are all under one roof and we don’t have to rush from one sales gallery to another,” added Yeoh.