Aside from their beauty and confidence, Miss Universe Malaysia title holders have always been known for their unique and groundbreaking styles. This year, the 26-year-old Lesley Cheam, a.k.a Miss Universe Malaysia 2022, will be wearing a national costume inspired by the majestic Mount Kinabalu to represent Malaysia at the 71st Miss Universe competition in New Orleans, USA, on the 14th of January 2023!
National Costume
The costume is adorned in a generous amount of silver and grey, which symbolise large slabs of granite along Mount Kinabalu. And just like Malaysia’s tallest mountain, the colours ooze strength and confidence. The costume was designed by Hatta Dolmat, who is collaborating with the Miss Universe Malaysia Organization (MUMO) for the first time, and the outfit weighs over 10kg!
Aligned with Lesley Cheam’s campaign to be kind to everyone, including the environment, this costume incorporates a sustainability theme, which is also what makes it a standout. From the fabric of the costume down to the embellishments, the designer used many innovative ways to incorporate unwanted items like fabric, lace, bark, and rPET or recycled PET (plastic used to make packaging like plastic water bottles and food containers) into many details of the costume.
Evening Gown
Also designed by Hatta Dolmat, the evening gown draws its inspiration from a nebula, which is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space. It features embellishments in purple, maroon, and gold to accentuate the skin tone and beauty of the reigning queen.
Elaine Daly, National Director of MUMO, says the costume sends a fashion statement that Malaysia is a progressive global citizen.
“The national costume is one of the highlights of the Miss Universe pageant. At MUMO, we go all out every year, and this year is no exception. We are promoting fashion upcycling on an international platform to help address climate change threats, which is one of mankind’s greatest challenges and global priorities now. We are also highlighting Mount Kinabalu as the pride of Malaysia, just as Lesley is to us as she represents Malaysia in the global arena next month,” she said.
To stay updated on the latest news about Miss Universe Malaysia, visit MUMO’s website, or follow its Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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