Malaysian model and fashion entrepreneur Sharminidevi Paramesipran, popularly known as Sharwita, is set to return to the red carpet of the 78th Cannes Film Festival on 20th May 2025. This marks her second appearance at the prestigious international event, where she aims to highlight Malaysia’s vibrant fashion and position the country as a rising destination for fashion tourism within ASEAN.
A familiar face is the local fashion industry with over 20 years of experience, Sharwita will grace the red carpet in a couture piece designed by The Atelier, a Malaysian haute couture house helmed by internationally known shoe designer Datuk Jimmy Choo. As a brand ambassador, to complement the gown Sarwita will be wearing a jewelry piece by Thamarai Jewels, with whom she is collaborating as their official jewellery partner for her appearance at the event.
Sharwita first made headlines at Cannes Film Festival 2024, when she wore a kebaya-inspired gown adorned with 10,000 handcrafted petals, a design that celebrated traditional elegance with a modern twist. This year, she continues to bring Malaysian creativity to an international platform, not only through fashion but also by serving a cultural ambassador.
Beyond the glitz of the red carpet, Sharwita will be participating in multiple film premiers and networking events across more than 60 international pavilions. She views Cannes as an opportunity to build connections between Malaysia’s creative talents and the global industry, from fashion to film.
Hailing from Kajang, Selangor, Sharwita is also the founder of Le Fashion Secret, a modeling agency that helps young Malaysian talents break into the international arena. Passionate about mentorship, she is known for offering free catwalk training and guidance to aspiring models.
Currently, Sharwita is also in talks with the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) to initiate collaborations that align with the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign. Her efforts are focused on promoting Malaysia as a stylish and culturally rich tourism hotspot, especially within the fashion sector.
The Cannes Film Festival is held from 13th May-24th May in France, remains one of the world’s most prestigious event, drawing top names from the film and fashion industries. With her upcoming appearance, Sharwita is once again poised to represent Malaysia on one of the most iconic red carpets in the world, this time with an even more bold message of style, identity and global connection.
