Focus on the Miss Universe national costumes starting with Southeast Asia
For Frederick Lee, having haters is a fact of life and he is willing
to take the risk. The 45 year old Singaporean couturier embarked in a
daunting task of designing the national costume for Miss Universe
Singapore 2015 Lisa White. It is understandable why he is a bit
concerned. His predecessor took a beating from online bashers for
designing Miss Universe Singapore 2014 Reetha Menon’s national costume.Lee is unperturbed. One will get bashers somehow no matter what you will design and create anyway. So, 200 hours and US$3, 000 later, a national costume that depicts the diversity in Singapore was born. The costume is an amalgam of Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures. The top of the dress is a Chinese cheongsam with the classic Singapore girl (as seen of Singapore Airlines cabin attendant uniforms) pattern. The headdress meanwhile was inspired by the ones used by Malay brides. On the other hand, the 3 meter structure harnessed at the back was influenced by kavadis that Hindu devotees carry during the Thaipusam procession.
While it is true that the designers of Singaporean national costumes at Miss Universe usually get a beating online, neighboring Thailand on the other hand, enjoys a better situation. That is largely due to the democratic process involved in selecting which costume would represent Thailand the best. Every year, hundreds of entries are entertained by the Miss Universe Thailand organization. A panel would narrow down the entries and eventually a winner will be announced.
Indeed with such a long record of wonderful and creative costumes, Thai designers get respect and adoration in their home country. That is contrary to what is happening in the Philippines. Like an annual ritual, the national costumes of the Philippine bet at Miss Universe gets more than a fair share of negative criticisms. At Miss Universe 2014, the costume created by the Colombian designer Alfredo Barraza for Miss Universe Philippines 2014 Mary Jean Lastimosa was labelled as a teenage girl’s birthday cake.
The most contentious issue among the Filipino fans is why the national costumes are designed by a foreigner. Most believe that a national costume should be designed by a local couturier so that the concept and theme would truly reflect the culture and history of the Philippines. For years, the Bb. Pilipinas organization – the national organizer of Miss Universe Philippines – ignored these critiques. Apparently, the “birthday cake” costume was the last straw. The costume was hammered hard by the bashers and critics and even the national news network in the Philippines aired the controversy. A member of the parliament even announced that she will initiate legislation to ensure that Filipino designers will design the national costumes of all Filipina beauty queens.
While the Philippines had been struggling with its National Costume designs, Indonesia is doing perfectly well. In fact, during the 2014 pageant year, the nation swept the Best in National Costume awards at Big4 pageants (except at Miss World where the award is not available)! The designers usually draw inspiration from the richness in the cultural diversity of Indonesia.
Miss Universe Malaysia Vanessa Tevi Kumares will wear a national costume that consists of a purple songket top and skirt, embellished with Bunga Mas (gold flower), a traditional gift the Sultans of the northern Malayan states used to present to the king of Siam as tribute.
Miss Universe Vietnam Huong Pham’s national costume is yet to be revealed in its entirety but it will be a white ao dai sprinkled with golden leaves. What makes this ao dai special is the additional bird-like headdress with elaborate golden feathers strapped at the back. The white fabric of the ao dai blends well with the gold colors of the accessories.
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