Oh, she's not really going to wear THAT, is she?
Twenty-two-year-old Miss Thailand World Nonthawan "Maeya" Thongleng will have plenty of people rooting for her when she vies for the Miss World crown in London on December 14. Her gown - maybe not so much.
After the usual flurry of consultations and fittings, Maeya modelled what was billed as her “traditional Thai” costume for the press on Tuesday. Many photos were duly taken. Much feedback was unduly harsh.
Twitter, Facebook and Pantip.com erected high walls of criticism, a consensus emerging that the outfit is just too “strange” and was perhaps inspired by a chicken coop. Its shape is a crime against Maeya’s admirable figure, people complained.
The official word is that Ruen Chao Sao, the boutique that designed the gown, sought to blend the classical Siamese lady’s dress of the 18th century with a Victorian-era skirt, the pageant taking in Britain, after all. No chickens were involved, they swear.
Maeya couldn’t very well help overhearing the chorus of boos from her fans, but she came up with a positive spin. “I’m not panicking about it,” she declared online. “On the contrary, I’m glad that so many people are supporting me. All they want is to see me do well for Thailand. They say I don’t look good in the dress, but I think I’ll be just as self-confident as ever.” And the criticism, Maeya says, will help the design team make improvements prior to the big day.
She clarifies that, unlike some pageants of pretties, Miss World has no segment in which the best “national costume” gets a separate award. She’s going to wear one anyway – but not THAT one. She says they’re making her a national costume that’s entirely different from the semi-traditional, semi-English one we’ve seen. Again, just for the fun of it.
“I think the ‘genuine’ traditional dress is very beautiful,” she’s told an interviewer, “but I can’t give any details just yet. It’s a secret!”
Secret, okay – we just hope it’s not another shock. And now, meanwhile, people are wondering whether the outfit unveiled to the press was merely a “trial balloon”, floated to test public opinion. If so, that balloon failed to fly, but fortunately there’s still lots of time to get Maeya into something a little more becoming.
Still gorgeous at 80
Maeya will no sooner be airborne in her balloon dress, floating toward London, than the Kingdom crowns its newest Miss Thailand. This year marks the national pageant’s 80th anniversary, organised as ever by the Vajiravudh College Alumni Association under royal patronage.
This year’s 24 finalists were chosen from among 265 candidates, the association says. The final round – carrying the banner “Eight Decades of the Kingdom’s Beauty” – takes place on November 22 at the Aksra King Power Theatre and will be broadcast live on Modernine.
The winner gets the usual glittery crown and sash, an Isuzu pickup truck and Bt1 million in cash. Special for this year, though, the two runners-up will also receive gem-studded crowns.
And there’s a “Miss Popular” title this time too. Until November 20 you can vote for your favourite at the pageant’s website.
