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SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) – When Miss Universe Singapore (MUS) 2018, Zahra Khanum appears on stage in Bangkok for the Miss Universe National Costume Show, she will present one of the year 's highlights.
In June, Singapore hosted the landmark summit between North Korea and the United States, the first ever between leaders of the two countries, Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump, respectively.
This meeting is the inspiration for this year's national MUS costume, consisting of 3 m long white dove wings, a symbol of peace embedded in the bodice and an electric blue skirt embellished with the digital print of a handshake – an arm adorned with the North Korean flag. and the other, the American flag – above the Singapore skyline.
Designing the national MUS costume for the third consecutive year, 48-year-old Moe Kasim was happy to play on a stereotype of the beauty pageant: want peace in the world.
POLITICAL SENSITIVITIES
He told New Paper: "The most difficult thing was getting the message through the design with taste, I had to consider the political sensitivities and what all that meant for Singapore and the global community … without ( create) a misinterpretation.
"And as the goal of the summit was to make peace, it was quite natural to take up the theme of world peace."
Ms. Khanum, 24, a graduate in sociology from the National University of Singapore, said, "My first impression of the costume was that she was absolutely angelic and that she truly embodied the essence of peace in the world.
"It had a very serene and calming effect."
Mr. Kasim, creative director of Moephosis Concepts, worked on the theme with the MUS national director, Nuraliza Osman, and the costume took three months to complete.
The MUS winner last year, Manuela Bruntraeger, wore a Supertree LED costume, while the 2016 winner, Cheryl Chou's, was inspired by Peranakan.
He said: "This year's costume is different because it does not contain any multiracial, architectural or iconic elements or themes.
"Instead, it is based solely on a historical event of the Singapore calendar under international surveillance, which is rather unique."
Miss Nuraliza, 41, added: "This shows the importance of Singapore in the search for peace, not only at the regional level but also at the global level."
Miss Khanum said: "This definitely represents something we all need, namely to promote a sense of unity and friendship, rather than hatred and anger."
The summit was held just before the MUS 2018 auditions weekend and she remembers this period as a period of preparation.
"I was reading world affairs every night and taking notes, listening to what important people had to say about these issues, such as my idols Michelle Obama and actress Priyanka Chopra."
And now, she is deploying similar efforts to prepare for the Miss Universe Final in Bangkok, to be held Dec. 17 at the Impact Arena.
She said: "I was constantly training and eating well, practicing my podium and expressions on stage, and keeping abreast of world news to broaden my knowledge.
"I hope my efforts will bear fruit and I look forward to doing my best to make Singapore very proud."
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