Beauty queens have always been sensationalised in the media for their sheer beauty and poise.

But there's always been a sense of mystery that looms over pageant competitions that are not always positive.

In a recent interview on a Hong Kong talk show called Yi Qi Zou Guo De Sui Yue, former beauty pageant queens Yeung Yuk Mui, 57, and Lai Suk Yin, 46, opened up about their experiences in beauty pageants, as both women competed in the Miss Asia show.

A Hong Kong-based beauty pageant organised by broadcasting organisation Asia Television (ATV), Miss Asia originated as a local pageant in 1985 and went through a bit of a whirlwind through its existence. After going on a hiatus from 2000 to 2003, the competition was rebranded as an Asian pageant in 2004, allowing competitors from all over Asia to compete.