Miss Universe Singapore reveals pageant gown featuring Trump's handshake with Kim Jong Un
As Miss Congeniality highlighted back in 2000, beauty pageant contestants are often expected to advocate for world peace. But Miss Universe Singapore plans to bring even more attention to that theme by wearing a dress in next month’s pageant that features an image of President Donald Trump’s handshake with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“My first impression of the costume was that it looked absolutely angelic and it truly did embody the essence of world peace,” Miss Universe Singapore Zahra Khanum, 24, told Singapore’s The New Paper. “It had a very serene and calming effect.”
Trump-Kim summit inspires latest Miss Universe Singapore national costume https://t.co/rEasoTmsX0 pic.twitter.com/UJsKif5L6y
— The Straits Times (@STcom) November 29, 2018
Khanum will sport the dress at next month’s 2018 Miss Universe pageant, which Trump happened to own until 2015. She told The New Paper that she’s “very happy” her costume will represent Singapore’s friendships with other nations.
Trump became the first U.S. president to meet with a North Korean leader in June, when they shook hands at a summit in Singapore. Not everyone thinks the image deserves the spotlight on Miss Universe Singapore’s gown, though.
So apparently I’ve lived to see the day where my country puts a North Korean flag in its Miss Universe dress entry. That’s not even the worst part… #singapore #fashionista https://t.co/5PGiEH6VzN
— Jiahui Cai (@ipoop_rainbows) November 29, 2018
What has this dress to do with SG, why we promoting for North Korea? Better to have LKY face printed on the dress! Designer of Miss Universe Singapore’s controversial Trump-Kim costume defends dress https://t.co/qcdPGotbNs via @ChannelNewsAsia
— Les Chander (@LesChander1) November 30, 2018
Miss Singapore's national costume entry at Miss Universe? A Trump-Kim Summit dress. Trump doesn't own Miss Universe anymore, miss. #worldpeace https://t.co/yzjeWgXiaQ pic.twitter.com/BWICjFY7qx
— Jeyup S Kwaak (@kwaakreports) November 29, 2018
Designer Moe Kasim worked with the Miss Universe Singapore national director to come up with the theme and then spent three months creating the look, per The New Paper.
“The toughest part was bringing out the message tastefully through design,” Kasim said, adding that he didn’t want there to be any “misinterpretation” about what the image represented.
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