MISS MALAYSIA-UNIVERSE GOES ‘PERANAKAN’ IN STYLE
National costume for competition a combination of Malay, Chinese and Peranakan culture
MALAYSIA’S unique Peranakan culture will be on full display when Miss Malaysia-Universe Shweta Sekhon takes the stage in the upcoming 68th Miss Universe competition.
Shweta, who will represent Malaysia in the pageant, will wear a Peranakan-themed costume in the national costume and evening gown competition, set to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States on Dec 8.
The national costume, titled Peranakan Indulgence, weighs a staggering 28kg and is a combination of elements of the Malay, Chinese and Peranakan culture.
The dress’s main body is made of songket and embroidered with elaborate beadwork, while the wings feature Nyonya Batik and a long strip of cloth wrapped around the body like a skirt.
A golden songket cape and red beads add a touch of ceremonial grandeur to the costume, which was inspired by traditional wedding costumes worn by Peranakan brides, symbolising the union of Yin and Yang.
The Nyonya Batik-clad wings represent the tails of a goldfish to symbolise an abundance of wealth and prosperity. The headgear, meanwhile, has gold aster flowers to represent love, daintiness and femininity.
The costume is the brainchild of Malaysian designer Carven Ong, 51, who said he was inspired by the country’s multicultural character and diversity.
Ong, whose is known for his stunning evening gowns, said it was his first time designing a national costume for the Miss Universe competition.
“There were many challenges in designing and creating such a delicate and complex national costume, which is something that we are truly proud of. It took me three months to complete the costume.”
He said the props attached to the costume include an assortment of local kuihmuih of Malay and Peranakan origins such as onde-onde, kuih koci, Ang Ku kuih, kuih talam, kuih lapis, kuih sago and red eggs and bakul siah (traditional Nyonya basket cake).
“I am proud to create something unique to symbolise the beauty of my country and introduce our multicultural heritage to the world,” he said at the unveiling of the costume and evening gown here.
For the evening gown, Ong chose a golden caramel hue to represent the fine grains of sand of Malaysian beaches. The gown is embellished with real seashell beads in a variety of shapes, shades and sizes. The dress is completed with a mermaid’s fin silhouette on both sides.
Shweta is not fazed by the weight of the national costume.
“I’ll be wearing the national costume and evening dress with pride,” she said, adding that she hoped to win the competition with the unique costume.