Miss Universe Malaysia 2017 Samantha Katie James will be spicing things up at the Miss Universe competition this year in something that we may or may not see coming…a Nasi Lemak dress.
The dress, which took a total of 400 hours to make by Dior-trained designer Brian Khoo, materializes the much-loved Nasi Lemak as we know it, ikan bilis on the side with boiled egg, sliced cucumber and sambal. True to Malaysian style, the National Costume also comes with banana leaves (which is typically used to wrap the Nasi Lemak) which incorporated one of our Nation’s treasured heritage, Batik, through a painted recreation of the banana leaves to tie up the look.
“Despite the wide diversity of cultures in our country, we can all agree that ‘Nasi Lemak’ truly unites us all”, said Brian Khoo.
For the Preliminary round, Brian opted for a decadent scarlet evening gown with a corset bedazzled with Swarovski crystals and thigh-high slit showing off the leg in illusion netting covered in more glittering Swarovski. The gown sparkles with every movement, an elegant number that radiates boldness and fire from within.
Miss Universe Malaysia Organization National Director Datin Elaine Daly is confident that Samantha Katie would be giving her best at the 66th Miss Universe competition in Las Vegas taking place on November 26th 2017.
A two dimensional art piece titled “The Tropical Rainforest” from ARCH will be auctioned off at the National Gift Auction segment where contestants will be bringing mementos from their respective countries to be auctioned off for charity. The piece features 10 species of wood, carefully crafted and assembled by local artisans to depict Malaysian rainforest.
Last year, Miss Universe Malaysia 2016 Kiran Jassal also donned an eye-catching outfit, a Petronas Twin Towers inspired outfit designed by Rizman Ruzaini.
Read also: Miss Universe Malaysia 2016’s National Costume Is Inspired By Petronas Twin Towers
