Some of the candidates in Miss Grand International 2017 tried wearing the traditional long gown in Vietnam. The National Costume is known as Ao Dai.
Contestants from different parts of the globe visited Huy’s Shop in this Southeast Asian nation to fit some of the dresses, Vietnam Net reported. Phu Quoc Island in Kien Gang province is the venue of the coronation night of Miss Grand International 2017.
Ao Dai is the traditional dress in the country characterized as a fitted and full-length clothing worn with loosely-made trousers. The dress has a slit from the waist down, revealing most parts of the trousers.
According to Vietnam Online, this traditional wear has been heavily influenced by the Qing Dynasty in China.
Despite their various racial backgrounds, the contestants each dazzled in the Ao Dai dress. For instance, Australia’s representative Kassandra Joy Lovisa Kashian tried on the clothing with a lotus floral design on the fabric.
Spain’s Diana Sofia Santos wore a light pink version of the gown with sleeves made from laces. Ecuador’s Analia Viviana Vernaza Daulon modeled the dress with prints of tree branches on the bottom of the fabric.
A national costume competition will be held on October 12 in Quang Binh province. The girls are currently touring Quang Binh for sightseeing and photo shoots.
Nature trip
A number of fans greeted the candidates as they arrived at Dong Hoi Airport in this Vietnamese province. Quang Binh is the second host location of the pageant along with Phu Quoc Island.
They headed to Sun Spa Resort for photo opportunities and a meet-and-greet with the fans. The resort staff warmly welcomed them by hanging floral garlands around their necks, the pageant’s official Facebook video revealed.
One of the pre-coronation activities was a nature-inspired trip. The girls were toured around the magnificent Paradise Cave in the province as they rode shuttle vehicles around the forest area. They were taken to the cave formations located in this area.
Best dressed
Earlier, the ladies were officially presented to the media during a welcome event held at Saigon Center Hotel on October 7, The Great Pageant Community reported.
Though it was not yet the final competition, some of the candidates already stood out among the rest.
India’s Anukriti Gussain wore a yellow-green gown that featured Indian details on the fabric and a mermaid fish cut on the skirt. Philippines’ Elizabeth Clenci chose to wear a strapless white gown that had a train made with ruffles.
Miss Grand International 2017 will hold a swimsuit competition on Phu Quoc Island on October 17 before the finals on October 25. Current titleholder Ariska Pertiwi from Indonesia will crown her successor during the event.
