Two of the candidates in the upcoming Miss Universe 2017 pageant have revealed their national costumes. Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters from South Africa will be wearing a costume inspired by her country’s national flower, Channel 24 reported.

The Miss Universe national costume show has been an annual tradition since the pageant started in 1952. Each of the candidates presents an attire that tells the story of their countries of origin.

Nel-Peter revealed her costume during a media event at Times Square Casino in Johannesburg on October 26. She will be wearing a pink ensemble with a huge embellishment around her arms and over her back.

It is inspired by South Africa’s national flower called the protea and was designed by Malikah Hajee.

She told Channel 24 that her preparations began from the moment she was crowned during the national pageant. She vowed to uphold the responsibility of the Miss Universe Organization and how it influences the lives of millions of people around the world.

Meanwhile, Australia’s representative Olivia Rogers has also unveiled her Opera House-inspired national costume that she will be wearing as the pageant begins in November. It is a white gown adorned with the architectural shapes of the iconic structure. It was designed by Begitta Stolk who took more than 100 hours to create the piece, laden with pearls and Swarovski crystals, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Controversies

Furthermore, Great Britain’s representative, Anna Burdzy, is taking on new horizons as she prepares for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant. She headed to the Philippines to train, exclusively, under its local pageant coaches known to produce many winners in international beauty tilts, local network GMA News reported.

Her training includes make-up, runway walk and selecting gowns that she will be wearing during the event. Burdzy said that she came to the Philippines to learn “the best walks” and “the best styling.”

Prior to the official start of the pageant, Vietnam’s representative Nguyen Thi Loan has found herself in the middle of a controversy after she called Miss International 2016 winner, Kylie Verzosa, “ugly,” another local news agency, Tempo, reported.

Verzosa hails from the Philippines and won the pageant tilt in Japan. The Vietnamese beauty has already issued her apology.

Coronation night

Over 80 candidates from different parts of the world are competing for the coveted title of Miss Universe 2017. It has previously been announced by the organizers that it will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Iris Mittenaere from France is slated to crown the new winner.
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