All the 18 finalists (above) getting ready to sweat it out (below).

THINGS heated up recently at the Celebrity Fitness gym at Bangsar Village II when 18 finalists of the Miss Malaysia Universe 2009 pageant belly-danced and sweated it out as part of their promotional tour for the pageant. Celebrity Fitness is the official fitness club for the pageant.

The finalists were offered one-on-one ­personal training sessions from Celebrity ­Fitness trainers, in order to maintain a healthy level of fitness before the pageant finals on May 30.

During the training sessions, they were coached on the correct way to do weight ­training and how to achieve a properly ­scuplted and toned body.

According to Muhd Al-Hafiz, ­Celebrity ­Fitness marketing executive: “We have ­specially designed classes and training ­sessions for the girls.

“We want to assure that they will be prepared physically, have toned and shapely bodies and at the same time, boost their confidence before they take to the stage during the finale.”

Belly dancing was chosen for this ­session because it was one of the new classes ­being offered at California Fitness.

“There are many benefits to belly dancing,” added Hafiz. “It improves one’s posture and muscle tone, encourages weight loss, reduces stress, strengthens the core, promotes a lean and toned body, aids digestion and more.

“Not only will you be more aware of your body, you will learn to be more gentle and sensual in many ways.

“Hopefully, after the class, the girls will be more aware of their bodies. They will also walk tall, and be poised and elegant as part of the requirements of being a Miss Malaysia Universe.”

The Miss Malaysia Universe 2009 grand finals will be held ­tomorrow at The Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur Hotel.

Besides a one-year gym membership from Celebrity Fitness, the winner will also walk away with a cash prize of RM50,000, a RM10,000 shopping voucher from Tangs and other exciting prizes.

She will also be off to the Bahamas in August to compete with other winners from around the world for a chance to take home the coveted crown of Miss Universe 2009.

To get familiar with the 18 Miss ­Malaysia Universe 2009 finalists and to find out more about the grand finale, visit www.­missmalaysiauniverse.net – Anansa Jacob