Traditional Dresses around the World as Presented by this year’s Miss Earth

Hello Ladies!

How many of you likes to watch the beauty pageants on television?

(If you watched it live then that’s more awesome!)

Okay I can’t deny my fascination with beauty pageants. I grew up watching it on television with my family and my best friend, which are usually aired every Sunday evening. So we have this tradition of eating dinner much earlier than usual because we need to get ready to watch (and be our own judge) cheering for our own candidates each year. Some might thought it’s quite weird, but it became a family-bonding moment.

We all watched and admire each candidates on how poise they are, how they could manage to walk on 4-inches heels and not looking down (gosh I tried it and its hell!) and not tripping off with their gorgeous gown and well airbrushed make-up. Watching in front of that television, the feeling was so intense and exciting, and there are times a bit frustrating when long commercial break comes-in, thus my opportunity to run to the bathroom for a quick pee. LOL

It’s like a superbowl for beauty pageants. We have our own bets, judging for their wits and glam, and yes – physical features also included.

One of the segment I do enjoy a lot is the presentation of their versions of National Costumes.
I haven’t got a chance to watch this year’s Miss Earth Pageant 2016 either on live or via television, however I managed to follow their Facebook Page to get an instant updates.

Miss Earth Pageant is an annual beauty pageant with a cause presented my Carousel Productions. Ladies are competing from all over the world to get each year’s title of Miss Earth. The winner will represent the organization to various charitable and environmental causes that they sponsor all over the world.

Is it that fabulous?! Beauty with a Cause!


Before I proceed, I would like to give a huge shout out for the Miss Earth and Carousel Productions – please send me invites next time! I would like to watch it live! LOL

AS I’ve said earlier I like their presentation of National Costumes.

So I’ve checked the latest photos of this year’s Miss Earth and I enjoyed scrutinizing their dresses.

THE ORIENTAL BEAUTIES

National Costumes of candidates from Chinese Taipei (now Taiwan), Indonesia, Mongolia, Japan, Macau SAR China, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

National Costumes from the Orient nations are more traditional and conservative. Style and fabrics are very unique and well-crafted. Usually it consumes yards and yards of 2 to 3 different fabrics to make one (1) traditional national costume.

I personally admire the dresses from Chinese Taipei, Macau, Japan and Korea – the embroideries are divine, very detailed and of course I just love long dresses. Surprisingly, wearing these dresses might be a little heavy but will keep you warn inside.

Wait until you wear the real kimono – which composed of 3 to 5 layers of dresses all wrapped around your body to create a distinct look.

But wait? Philippines is also an Oriental country right? Where is her national costume?

Here it is with Miss Earth Philippines Imelda Schweighart.

I’ve been watching beauty pageants for years and loving Philippine fashion, but never has it come in my mind that the traditional national dress of the Philippines as presented like this.

This is like a graphic online RPG character cum mythic character combined.

According to the reports, this version of Philippine National Costume modeled by Miss Earth Philippines Imelda Schweighart, is inspired by the Philippine Eagle. This was called “Half Human, Half Eagle”

I’m telling you ladies, there is no half-human, half-eagle ever existed in my country (only on some RPG games and cosplays). It was reported that this dress was conceptualized and designed by a certain Patrick Starr.

And half-eagle with an armour???

Update: Imelda Schweishart, tendered her resignation to as Miss Earth Philippines last October 31, 2016 after receiving tons of back clash online. This was after the scandal she created when she openly likened  Philippines' President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to Adolf Hitler, in a conversation with Miss Earth Austria, captured in a video.

Another is when she rants about the yellow gown worn y Miss Earth Katherine Espin, that is supposed to be her gown, but the designer said it is not Imelda's discretion to own it as she didn't paid for it. Oopss drama!

After the crowning ceremony last Sunday, Imelda Schweishart rants to her supporters (again captured on video) that winner Miss Earth Katherine Espin undergone plastic surgery. Imelda's crying to her fans that Katherine has "fake nose, fake chin and fake boobs" and does Miss Earth (according to her) should be "all natural".

Definitely  a huge thumbs down from me. No wonder she is the most hated Beauty Queen in the Philippines.

By the way, an ideal Philippine national costumes looks like these:

Excerpt from Mutya ng Ibalong Pageant 2016.

OTHER ASIAN COUNTRIES

National Costumes presented by candidates from Palentine, Nepal, Myanmar, India, and Pakistan

Traditional costumes of other Asian countries particularly those located in West Asia, are mixed influenced of both Asia and Middle Eastern traditional designs.

NORTHERN AMERICAN BEAUTIES

National Costumes presented by the candidates from Belize, United States of America, Guatemala, Mexico, Canada and Panama.

Northen American countries have very diverse influenced of Red Indians, and also during many previous years of colonization of Spanish and French. USA national costumes is inspired by their flag per se (which my country can’t do it because wearing our flag as costume is against the PH law). I admire Mexico’s traditional dress because of its detailed craftsmanship and its classiness, that I personally think also have a similar influence to our country’s national costume. While Canada’s national costume reminds me of the old Red Indians, or a huge huge maple tree! (sorry, can’t help it).

SOUTHERN AMERICAN BEAUTIES

National costumes presented by candidates from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

I think the national costumes in Southern America (also known as Latin America) are the most festive of all. Maybe because of its influence of Amerindian (aka Native American) ancestors. They are more on huge head dresses, adorned with various colored feathers.

AFRICAN NATION BEAUTIES

National costumes presented by the candidates from Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Namibia, Uganda and Zambia.

When I saw their photos I was so stunned with their unique beauties, they look liked African Barbies – they have these beautiful smiles that captures the attention of their audiences.

EUROPEAN BELLES

National Costumes as presented by candidates from Portugal, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Italy and Sweden.

Belles from the European countries have also unique and diverse cultures. The dresses of Belgium, Italy and Denmark looks like they are warrior belles, while the Sweden seems so modest and looking for peace. Sweden’s dress somehow has a similarity with Philippines traditional dresses (not the half-human, half-eagle presented this year).

Overall, this year’s Miss Earth presentation is very interesting and gives me lots of ideas for the next year’s Miss Earth.

Beauty pageants are one of the toughest and stressful competition, full of effin drama ( like lost gowns, shoes, online bashing, etc.) but in the end online one belle wins… Congratulations to Miss Ecuador, Katherine Espin for winning this year’s crown!

Have you watched this year’s Miss Earth 2016 Beauty Pageant? Who is/are your bets?

xoxo, Blair

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