Who is Lishalliny Kanaran?
Lishalliny Kanaran is a Malaysian beauty queen, actress, and model best known for winning the title of Miss Grand Malaysia 2021. She gained widespread recognition after representing Malaysia at Miss Grand International 2021, where she placed among the Top 10 and earned the award for Best National Costume. Aside from pageantry, Lishalliny has made her mark in the Malaysian Tamil entertainment industry through television roles and public advocacy. In 2024, she bravely came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against a priest, drawing national attention for her courage and activism.
Field | Details |
Full Name | Lishalliny Kanaran |
Age | 24 Years |
Known For | Miss Grand Malaysia 2021, Actress |
Nationality | Malaysian |
Ethnicity | Indian Tamil |
Religion | Hinduism |
Birthplace | Selangor, Malaysia |
Education | Architecture, UTAR (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman) |
Profession | Model, Actress, Beauty Queen |
Years Active | 2020–present |
Languages Known | Tamil, English, Bahasa Malaysia |
Pageant Titles | Miss Grand Selangor 2020, Miss Grand Malaysia 2021 |
Major Achievement | Top 10 Miss Grand International 2021, Best National Costume |
Lishalliny Kanaran Early Life
Lishalliny was born and raised in Selangor, Malaysia, in a Tamil-speaking Malaysian Indian family. From a young age, she exhibited confidence, stage presence, and a strong sense of justice. Her upbringing was deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual values, which later played a significant role in her public and personal life.
Lishalliny Kanaran Education
Lishalliny pursued her higher education in Architecture at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), balancing academic life with her modeling and acting pursuits. Her dedication and multitasking ability allowed her to excel in both fields simultaneously.
Lishalliny Kanaran Family
Lishalliny is supported by a close-knit Tamil-Indian family. Though she has not publicly disclosed names, she has acknowledged her mother as her primary support, especially during challenging times. After the temple incident, her mother travelled from India to Malaysia to accompany her through the legal process and stand by her side emotionally.
Relation | Name/Status | Additional Info |
Mother | Name not public | Returned from India to support her post-incident |
Father | Not publicly known | Believed to be alive, not publicly mentioned |
Siblings | Not disclosed | Private |
Marital Status | Unmarried | No public relationship |
Family Origin | Tamil-Indian (Malaysia-based) | Deeply rooted in Tamil Hindu traditions |
Lishalliny Kanaran Career
Pageantry
- Crowned Miss Grand Malaysia 2021, a milestone that launched her into international fame.
- Represented Malaysia at Miss Grand International 2021, held in Thailand, where she:
- Placed in the Top 10 Finalists.
- Won the Best National Costume Award with a striking ensemble inspired by Malaysian heritage.
Modeling and Acting
- Lishalliny has worked as a model for multiple Malaysian fashion and bridal brands.
- Featured in local Tamil-language TV dramas, including Jeeyum Neeyum and Thigil, aired on Astro Vinmeen HD.
- Known for portraying emotionally strong and socially relevant characters in her roles.
Lishalliny Kanaran Recent Temple Incident
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- On June 21, 2025, Lishalliny visited a Mariamman Temple in Sepang (Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi) to deepen her connection with her faith while her mother was in India.
- She waited for over an hour due to the crowd. The priest, serving temporarily while the resident priest was abroad, led her to his office, offering “holy water” and a “protective string” as a blessing.
- Inside the office, the priest poured a strong-smelling floral essence (claimed to be from India) into the holy water and splashed it on her face. Her eyes stung so badly she couldn’t open them.
- He then asked her to lift her Punjabi suit, a request she refused. He reportedly became aggressive, placing his hands inside her blouse and bra under the guise of blessing her. She froze in shock and managed to leave the premises..
- She remained silent about the incident until July 4, when her mother returned and accompanied her to file an official police report. Authorities advised her family not to make the matter public, but she later shared her experience via Instagram to give voice to survivors and highlight flaws in temple accountability systems.
- The Sepang District Police categorized the case under Section 354 of the Penal Code (outrage of modesty), which carries up to 10 years in prison, fines, or whipping. A manhunt is currently underway to locate the accused priest, who is reported to be an Indian national temporarily serving at the temple.
- Lishalliny’s decision to speak out has spurred public debate over safety in religious institutions in Malaysia and prompted calls for transparent procedures for addressing complaints of misconduct in sacred spaces.
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Social Media Fanbase
Lishalliny is active on social media and uses her platforms to share beauty content, advocacy messages, and personal experiences.
Platform | Handle / URL | Followers (Approx.) |
@lishallinykanaran | 92K+ | |
Not Official/Public | — | |
TikTok | Not confirmed/officially active | — |
YouTube | No public channel | — |
Net Worth
As of 2025, Lishalliny Kanaran’s net worth is estimated to be around $100,000 to $150,000 USD.
Source of Income | Estimated Amount / Contribution |
Modeling & Endorsements | Moderate |
Acting (TV Dramas) | Moderate |
Pageantry & Sponsorships | Moderate |
Brand Collaborations | Moderate |
Estimated Net Worth (2025) | $100,000 – $150,000 USD |
Physical Appearance
Attribute | Details |
Height | 5 feet 7 inches (approx.) |
Weight | 52 kg (approx.) |
Hair Color | Dark Brown |
Eye Color | Black |
Skin Tone | Wheatish |
Body Type | Slim and Fit |
Style Signature | Traditional meets modern fusion |
Unknown Facts about Lishalliny Kanaran
- Lishalliny is trained in classical Indian dance, which she has showcased in various cultural shows.
- She designed her own national costume for Miss Grand International with a Malaysian cultural theme.
- Despite being a public figure, she is known for her modest and humble persona.
- She faced criticism and backlash for speaking out against sexual harassment but refused to be silenced.
- She advocates for mental health, women’s safety, and child education.
- Her courage in filing a police report in 2024 inspired many others to share their own stories.
- She has a strong fan base among Malaysian Indian youth and is seen as a role model.
- She once shared that she wanted to become an architect to design homes that feel “safe and empowering” for women.
FAQs about Lishalliny Kanaran
Q1. Who is Lishalliny Kanaran?
Lishalliny Kanaran is a Malaysian-Indian beauty queen, actress, and model best known for winning Miss Grand Malaysia 2021 and placing in the Top 10 at Miss Grand International 2021. She is also known for her advocacy work and recent legal action against sexual misconduct.
Q2. What happened at the temple incident involving Lishalliny?
In June 2025, she accused a priest at a Selangor temple of molesting her under the guise of a blessing. She filed a police report and later spoke publicly about the incident.
Q3. Is the accused priest under investigation?
Yes, the police are investigating under Section 354 of Malaysia’s Penal Code for outrage of modesty. The accused priest is reportedly on the run.
Q4. What does Lishalliny do professionally?
She is a model, actress, and former pageant winner. She has acted in Malaysian Tamil dramas and works with brands for endorsements.
Q5. Has she received any awards?
Yes, she won Best National Costume at Miss Grand International 2021 and placed among the Top 10 finalists globally.
Q6. Is Lishalliny Kanaran in a relationship?
As of now, there is no public information confirming any romantic relationship.
Q7. What is her educational background?
She studied Architecture at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Malaysia.
Q8. Where can fans follow her online?
Lishalliny is active on Instagram under @lishallinykanaran, where she shares beauty, fashion, and advocacy content.
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