Unduk Ngadau is a beauty pageant held during Kaamatan in Sabah, Malaysia. The word comes from 'Runduk Tadau' which literally means 'the girl crowned by sunlight'.
The Unduk Ngadau, or Harvest Festival queen, symbolizes Huminodun, the sacrificed daughter of Kinorohingan. It is also believed that she is the first who taught the Bobohizan their ritual mantras, which exist to this today.
The pageant was formerly known as Miss Kadazan (1960-1970), Miss Harvest Festival (1971-1980), and Ratu Kaamatan (1981-1990). The current Unduk Ngadau title has been in place since 1991.Contestants in the state-level pageants are generally the winner of their district's pageant. However, some districts hold joint pageants which produce more than one state-level contestant. Notably, Tuaran and Tamparuli hold a joint pageant in Tamparuli, with the first-place winner going on to represent Tuaran, and the second-place winner representing Tamparuli.
In recent years, participants from Peninsular Malaysia have been able to participate in the pageant under Klang Valley.
The state-level pageant is held on the 31st of May each year at the Hongkod Koisaan building in Penampang, and is the highlight and ending point of the monthlong Kaamatan celebrations.
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