Miss Universe Malaysia unveils nasi lemak costume

Samantha Katie James even has banana leaves for wings! The beauty pageant joins the nasi lemak craze

By Andrea Tim | Published: 31 Oct 2017

Nasi Lemak gown. Photo: ELLE Malaysia

What a good way to tell Singapore that nasi lemak is ours. Reigning Miss Universe Malaysia Samantha Katie James will compete at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant in Las Vegas wearing a nasi lemak gown.

It's only our favourite food, ever. And apparently, it's also Samantha's!

The national costume, along with her evening gown were unveiled this afternoon at a press conference in Petaling Jaya. Malaysian designer Brian Khoo is behind both designs. The nasi lemak gown took a month to make, and even has sambal, anchovies, cucumber slices and half a boiled egg (or is it a sunny-side-up?). The rice is represented by the hand-embroidered white rhinestones all over the gown. But the most outrageous detail is the pair of banana leaf wings, which Samantha says are actually really light. The authenticity is real.

Samantha's evening gown is a classy floor-trailing red number with a waist-high slit – she wore it with bedazzled leggings and red shoes Dorothy would go green for.

http://www.elle.my/fashion/News/Miss-Universe-Malaysia-2017-costume-nasi-lemak