Cover image via Miss Universe
After all the hoo-ha surrounding Miss Universe Malaysia's national costume, Samantha Katie James finally presented the infamous nasi lemak dress at the Miss Universe 2017 pageant in Las Vegas over the weekend
Image via Preen / Inquirer.net
Apart from the get-up that was unveiled last month, Miss Universe Malaysia Samantha Katie James also brought with her a set of giant glittery cutlery to accompany the dress.
The National Costume Show was held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas on Saturday, 25 November ahead of the grand event on 26 November, where contestants from 92 countries and territories vied for the title of Miss Universe 2017.
Image via Oh No They Didn't!
So, how did the nasi lemak dress stack up against the other contestants'? From the kinda "meh" to the outlandishly extra, here's what the other contestants wore to represent their countries (by alphabetical order):
1. Miss Albania
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2. Miss Angola
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3. Miss Argentina
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That's a gorgeous gown… but we still can't figure out why she's carrying a street lamp post.
4. Miss Aruba
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5. Miss Australia
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The white folds are supposed to represent the Sydney Opera House while the sparkly things on her back are fireworks.
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6. Miss Austria
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7. Miss Bahamas
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8. Miss Barbados
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9. Miss Belgium
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10. Miss Bolivia
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11. Miss Brazil
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12. Miss British Virgin Islands
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13. Miss Bulgaria
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14. Miss Cambodia
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15. Miss Canada
Inspired by the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Miss Canada's fluffy Ice Queen costume actually looks much better up close, especially the head dress and collar:
Image via Erick Monterrosa / Miss Universe Canada
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16. Miss Cayman Islands
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17. Miss Chile
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18. Miss China
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19. Miss Colombia
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20. Miss Costa Rica
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21. Miss Croatia
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22. Miss Curaçao
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23. Miss Czech Republic
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24. Miss Dominican Republic
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25. Miss Ecuador
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Miss Ecuador's gown has an interchangeable train!
26. Miss Egypt
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27. Miss El Salvador
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28. Miss Ethiopia
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29. Miss Finland
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30. Miss France
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If you're wondering why France's national costume features a giant Olympics logo, it's because Paris was just announced as the host for the 2024 Summer Olympics earlier this year.
31. Miss Georgia
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32. Miss Germany
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Yep, it's basically a Snow White costume.
33. Miss Ghana
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34. Miss Great Britain
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35. Miss Guam
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36. Guatemala
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37. Miss Guyana
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38. Miss Haiti
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39. Miss Honduras
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40. Miss Iceland
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The first Viking-inspired ensemble of the night, Miss Iceland's costume features a feathered cow skull headpiece and is armed with an awesome bejewelled axe!
41. Miss India
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42. Miss Indonesia
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Inspired by the orang utan, Miss Indonesia's national costume looks pretty normal… until she turns around and you suddenly find a pair eyes from a stuffed orang utan starring into your soul.
43. Miss Iraq
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44. Miss Ireland
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45. Miss Israel
Looks familiar? That's because Miss Israel's costume is most probably inspired by the 2004 Miss Israel a.k.a. Gal Gadot a.k.a. Wonder Woman!
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46. Miss Italy
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47. Miss Jamaica
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48. Miss Japan (winner of Best National Costume)
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Miss Japan's national costume is actually two ensembles in one! Though it looked like a Japanese samurai warrior's get-up when she walked onstage, it unfurls into a kimono-inspired dress when she unclips her top.
Image via Rappler
49. Miss Kazakhstan
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50. Miss Korea
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51. Miss Laos
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52. Miss Lebanon
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53. Miss Malta
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54. Miss Mauritius
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55. Miss Mexico
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If you haven't figured it out based on the paint brush and artist's palette, Miss Mexico's national costume is inspired by renowned Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (also evident in the painted-on eyebrows and Kahlo's iconic flower headdress!).
56. Miss Myanmar
Image via Twitter @ThanZun
Last year's Miss Myanmar won Best National Costume when she dressed up as a marionette theatre. This year's Miss Myanmar took it up a few notches, dressing up as the Myanmar Traditional Orchestra, complete with drums and gongs!
57. Miss Namibia
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58. Miss Nepal
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59. Miss Netherlands
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60. Miss New Zealand
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61. Miss Nicaragua
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62. Miss Nigeria
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63. Miss Norway
Another Viking-inspired costume, this time with a dual-horn helmet, a blue cape, as well as intricate gauntlets and boots.
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64. Miss Panama
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65. Miss Paraguay
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66. Miss Peru
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67. Miss Philippines
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68. Miss Poland
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69. Miss Portugal
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70. Miss Puerto Rico
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71. Miss Romania
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72. Miss Russia
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73. Miss Saint Lucia
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74. Miss Singapore
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75. Miss Slovak Republic
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76. Miss Slovenia
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77. Miss South Africa (winner of Miss Universe 2017)
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78. Miss Spain
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79. Miss Sri Lanka
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80. Miss Sweden
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81. Miss Tanzania
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82. Miss Thailand
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Our personal favourite, Miss Thailand's national costume is called "Chasing the Light' and inspired by an ancient story depicting the existence of thunder and lightning, in which she plays the God of Thunder and the doll depicts the God of Lightning.
Check out the stunning attention to detail on the headdress and, well, the entire costume!
Image via Twitter @bobbibleuuehara
83. Miss Trinidad and Tobago
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84. Miss Turkey
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85. Miss Ukraine
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86. Miss Uruguay
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87. Miss USA
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She's an atom, btw.
88. Miss US Virgin Islands
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89. Miss Venezuela
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90. Miss Vietnam
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91. Miss Zambia
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