JANE TEOH UNVEILS ‘BANGAU PERAHU’ NATIONAL COSTUME, EVENING GOWN & NATIONAL GIFT FOR 67TH MISS UNIVERSE® COMPETITION

PETALING JAYA, 15 November 2018 – Reigning Miss Universe Malaysia 2018 Jane Teoh unveiled the much-anticipated ‘Bangau Perahu’ National Costume, Evening Gown and National Gift for the 67 TH MISS UNIVERSE competition set to take place in Bangkok, Thailand at a special preview today.

The unique ‘Bangau Perahu’ National Costume is based on an artistic interpretation of traditional Malay craftsmanship by designer Salleh Hamid, and will be showcased by Jane Teoh during the National Costume segment while the stunning silver evening gown by Amazé will be worn at the show leading up to the crowning of the new Miss Universe 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday, 17 December 2018 at 8am.

The media preview was attended by Datin Elaine Daly, National Director of the Miss Universe Malaysia Organization (MUMO), designers Salleh Hamid, Rhea Tan of Rhea Tan Designs, Amazé designer duo Amar Madfie and Zeed Jameel, sponsors, members of the media and friends.

Referring to the National Costume design, Salled Hamid said, “I was inspired by the rich Malay cultural history and traditional beliefs, the authenticity in the artistic craft of boat-making in the olden days, and the Malay art of ‘Awan Larat’ usually seen in carvings.”

He spent six months creating the unique National Costume inspired by the ‘bangau perahu’ (boat’s crane or sail guard) commonly seen on traditional fishing boats by the Malay community in the East Coast.

In the National Costume, Salleh has applied the ‘bangau’ (on the right shoulder), ‘okok’ (on the left shoulder), and caping (on the neck).

According to traditional beliefs of the Malay fishing community in the East Coast, fishing activities in the sea are often shrouded with the risk of storms and disturbances from sea deities. As such, the protector of a boat comes in the form of a decorative ornament placed in front of a boat, usually the ‘bangau’, ‘okok’ and ‘caping’, although the ‘bangau’ tends to be more prominent. This decorative object is considered as the ‘spirit’ of the boat and is often shaped in various motifs such as flora, fauna, and shadow puppets. The ‘bangau’ is said to help protect the fishermen working at sea.

The National Costume features a corset shaped like an armour laden with wood carving in a traditional Malay pattern known as ‘Awan Larat’. The handcrafted 3D element of the front shield resembles the front of the boat while the playful shimmer of the skirt was inspired by the glistening sea water as the boat cuts through the water. To complement the attire, a blue warrior-like custom-made boots were designed by shoe designer Rhea Tan to complete the look.

Meanwhile, designers Amar and Zeed of Amazé were the mastermind behind the stunningly sensual yet regal gown, a silver beaded number painstakingly sewn to perfection to accentuate Jane’s best asset – her shoulders. Inspired by the architecture and structural lines of the Seri Wawasan Bridge in Putrajaya, the dress embodies a strong, confident woman, and acts as an armour against a modern, challenging world. The off-shoulder bodice top with a soft draping and a mermaid-cut silhouette showcases rows of hand-sewn embellishment and intricate beadwork, designed to flatter Jane’s statuesque figure.

Jane Teoh said, “It’s been months since we first embarked on the process of making the dresses, the many hours of workmanship and hard work poured into these masterful designs. It’s just thrilling to see the final creations, and I am very excited to be able to wear these beautiful creations to represent my country. The National Costume is iconic and rich in Malay culture, while the evening gown is nothing short of exquisite thanks to our talented designers, Salleh Hamid and Amazé.”

For the National Gift Auction segment where all contestants will bring mementos from their respective countries to be auctioned off for charity, Jane will be presenting a beautiful three layer freshwater pearl necklace from Borneo Pearls’ classic collection. The design is inspired by the flora and fauna of wild Borneo, and features off-round pearls with a butterfly pin. This handmade necklace consists of carefully-selected white pearls to represent the purity and sacredness of the event.

Borneo Pearls will also be providing delegate gifts consisting of classic genuine freshwater pearl pendants with Rhodium plating that will be presented to all 110 contestants participating in the 67 th MISS UNIVERSE® competition. Additionally, BOH Plantations will be providing gifts for the delegates. As the Official National Carrier for Miss Universe Malaysia 2018, Malaysia Airlines Berhad will be sponsoring the flights to and from Bangkok for Jane Teoh.

The Miss Universe Malaysia Organization would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to all of our generous sponsors for Miss Universe Malaysia 2018, namely Amazé, Salleh Hamid, Malaysia Airlines, Borneo Pearls, BOH Plantation, Miko Galere, Ceres, Rhea Tan and MUCA.

Official images of Jane Teoh in the National Costume and Evening Gown are available for download here: http://bit.ly/MUM2018NatCos

On a related note, fans of Miss Universe will be delighted to know that reigning Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters will be in Kuala Lumpur this December 2018 to launch MUCA, the Official Skincare Sponsor for the 2018 Miss Universe competition.