Very disappointed in NZ's. It looked cheap and boring.
Especially after last year's.
While I agree the costume design is pretty boring, I can't agree that it looks cheap. The way that fabric moves - even the way it looks in this still - very much says "costly" to me.
Explanation of the dress: "Inspired by the New Zealand landscape, and mother earth, Papatūānuku, who gave birth to all things and nourishes them, according to Maori myth.
And the national flower the kowhai tree. These yellow flowers can be found all across New Zealand, Kowhai trees are even given to people as gifts from the New Zealand government when they obtain New Zealand citizenship, so that they have a piece of their new home."
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
Nicaragua. "Based on the lyrics of the poem by a Nicaraguan poet, Anna Gomez.
Represents peace and hope for the country." I'm really just confused by the loop coming out from under her dress.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
Damn, poor Nigeria. Now THIS looks cheap.
"If you divide the whole world into just enemies and friends, you'll end up destroying everything" --Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
Nambia's diamond inspired costume is better than Angola's diamond inspired costume. Angola's costume is cooler, but the "diamonds" are literally just spots of paint on her skin.
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edited December 2018
Miss Norway looked so sad walking down the catwalk in this. A sort of defeated, "this is my life now" aura.
Edit: Oh shit SHE DESIGNED IT HERSELF. Now I feel even more bad for her.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
edited December 2018
Oh Panama is interesting in the description. This year's Miss Panama is the first ever indigenous Miss Panama.
It's apparently based in folk lore but they aren't really clear what that folklore is:
“Zarati, the Renaissance of 2 Legends.” Designed and made by Abdul Juliao @abdulhabid. A costume designed to be the tears and hair of Zara.
Is Zara a goddess or something else? Who knows, I guess!
Edit: Oh wait, Miss Panama explained in her Instagram
Before the conquest of America by the Spaniards there were native peoples led by strong men called the Caciques. In turn led by beautiful maidens and daughters of these brave warriors, who took care of them as they took care of their lands and nature around them.
The lands that today belong to the province of Cocle, one of the most important caciques of the coclesanas lands.
A woman of stunning beauty and intelligence lived there with transparent and pure waterfalls and rivers that bathed the lands of his father.
Zara was the name of that woman who, being the daughter of the cacique, was named a princess. This title made her possessor of an aren of beautiful ladies and, in addition, was presented handsome gentlemen of other caciques.
But, the heart of Zara belonged to Chigoré a brave native, whose strength was envied in the neighboring lands. As the leader of his people he possessed certain gifts including the strength and nobility of his soul, gifts that fell in love with Zara.
Legend has it that every afternoon with the sunset of the sun, the sound of the wind and the song of the birds Zara and Chigore embarked on a raft to live their idyll of love, surrounded by nature as their only witness of love.
One afternoon the maid Zara returned to the region, after having met her lover, and saw that a flock of white beings with metal skin and iron claws mounted on horses, set fire to the huts of their people and insulted their damsels, spreading pain and death on all sides.
Zara as the daughter of a cacique went to defend her people from the metal skins, but in the midst of her anger she remembered the promise of love she made to her beloved Chigore; Stunned by fear Zara ran to the highest part of the mountains where the river was born, already at the peak wrapped in the golden gold of the sun's rays and covered by the tears of its people, she threw herself into the void, turning her hair into the waterfalls and their tears in the waters of the RIO ZARATÍ, which in the indigenous language means "El Rio de Zara.
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The Philippines is a decked out player in a fps doing a post kill taunt.
having the costume rolling round on casters behind you seems like cheating somehow
I agree this is cheating! Especially after India carried a 100 pound chair on her back!
Though in actually seeing the piece walk, I think the casters are more because they made the piece too delicate, not that the contestant couldn't carry it herself.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
Poland is pretty cool in a hippy-dippy boho sort of way. She's supposed to be a water nymph.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
Portugal's dress had a small transformation - the "boat" portion used to be higher up, but then she let down the nets and it went to her feet. Better than another flower I guess.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
HOLY FUCK WHY HAS NO ONE MENTIONED THE ABSOLUTE MADNESS OF PUERTO RICO YET.
IS SHE DRESSED AS A STEVEN UNIVERSE EPISODE?
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Russia pays her respects to Lebanon and Mongolia, and is sure she's found a way to get that bitch She-Ra once and for all.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
Saint Lucia wanted to get married but her dress got all muddy somehow.
"If you divide the whole world into just enemies and friends, you'll end up destroying everything" --Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
Puerto Rico is dressed as the hurricane that destroyed their country and killed thousands of people.
Representing the winds of hurricane Maria
(Unless the news site I used was incorrect)
Here's another site's description:
It symbolizes Puerto Rico rising up out of the ocean after the hurricane Maria disaster that crippled the island, and props to Kiara who was seen screwing this monstrous piece together backstage. The enormous helping hands symbolize those who helped Puerto Rico in their time of need.
Whew, that's more reasonable.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
Puerto Rico is dressed as the hurricane that destroyed their country and killed thousands of people.
Representing the winds of hurricane Maria
(Unless the news site I used was incorrect)
Here's another site's description:
It symbolizes Puerto Rico rising up out of the ocean after the hurricane Maria disaster that crippled the island, and props to Kiara who was seen screwing this monstrous piece together backstage. The enormous helping hands symbolize those who helped Puerto Rico in their time of need.
Whew, that's more reasonable.
Yeah yeah, it's helping hands and the Puerto Rican spirit and all that. It's still going to be the Diamond Authority trying to destroy Steven Universe in my head canon.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
edited December 2018
Spain wore a flamenco dress. Very pretty, too much so for this runway.
Also, way too many of the dresses this year included the descriptor, "white represents purity!" Did Richard Spencer write the script?
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
Sri Lanka represents parades and women's empowerment.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
Sweden wore a boring dress, but I adore that headpiece.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
Switzerland's costume represents snow and ice cream and NOT, thank God, white purity.
"If you divide the whole world into just enemies and friends, you'll end up destroying everything" --Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
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FencingsaxIt is difficult to get a man to understand, when his salary depends upon his not understandingGNU Terry PratchettRegistered Userregular
White clothes have represented purity and honesty in the West since at least the Romans. (Hence, Candidate)
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
Thailand did pretty well! First time I've seen an elephant on this catwalk, that's for sure.
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Turkey, pretty dress, yawn.
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White clothes have represented purity and honesty in the West since at least the Romans. (Hence, Candidate)
I know the symbolism of white clothes. It's still creepy to keep talking about purity every other contestant. What kind of purity, exactly? I can't think of any standard "purity" when applied to a human being that isn't creepy.
"If you divide the whole world into just enemies and friends, you'll end up destroying everything" --Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
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edited December 2018
Ukraine is pretty cool, they're made to look like traditional Ukrainian embellishment.
Edit: lol anouncers mentioning purity again.
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Uruguay is said to be wearing a dress inspired by the Salvadore Dali painting "The Meditative Rose"
Hmm, kinda neat but I feel like the rose should have been in the center rather than on her shoulder.
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edited December 2018
USA came as the national flower, which I am now learning is the rose. Yawn. Uruguay's rose was better.
Edit: The skirt comes off.
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US Virgin Islands pledges aid to She-Ra during this multi-pronged assault against her.
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CambiataCommander ShepardThe likes of which even GAWD has never seenRegistered Userregular
Just once I want someone wearing red have the announcer say, "the red represents the pleasures of being a slut."
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Venezuela is dressed as a nature goddess. This photo is really great because it makes her eyes look gold, and I don't know if they're really gold, if she's wearing contacts, or if it's just a trick of the light.
"If you divide the whole world into just enemies and friends, you'll end up destroying everything" --Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind
Posts
While I agree the costume design is pretty boring, I can't agree that it looks cheap. The way that fabric moves - even the way it looks in this still - very much says "costly" to me.
Explanation of the dress: "Inspired by the New Zealand landscape, and mother earth, Papatūānuku, who gave birth to all things and nourishes them, according to Maori myth.
And the national flower the kowhai tree. These yellow flowers can be found all across New Zealand, Kowhai trees are even given to people as gifts from the New Zealand government when they obtain New Zealand citizenship, so that they have a piece of their new home."
Represents peace and hope for the country." I'm really just confused by the loop coming out from under her dress.
Edit: Oh shit SHE DESIGNED IT HERSELF. Now I feel even more bad for her.
It's apparently based in folk lore but they aren't really clear what that folklore is:
“Zarati, the Renaissance of 2 Legends.” Designed and made by Abdul Juliao @abdulhabid. A costume designed to be the tears and hair of Zara.
Is Zara a goddess or something else? Who knows, I guess!
Edit: Oh wait, Miss Panama explained in her Instagram
Peru, eh? It's a little more interesting of an outfit than I though ti was when she first walked out.
I agree this is cheating! Especially after India carried a 100 pound chair on her back!
Though in actually seeing the piece walk, I think the casters are more because they made the piece too delicate, not that the contestant couldn't carry it herself.
IS SHE DRESSED AS A STEVEN UNIVERSE EPISODE?
(Unless the news site I used was incorrect)
Here's another site's description:
Whew, that's more reasonable.
This dress was actually kind of OK until she opened it for the hideous skirt mural.
Yeah yeah, it's helping hands and the Puerto Rican spirit and all that. It's still going to be the Diamond Authority trying to destroy Steven Universe in my head canon.
Also, way too many of the dresses this year included the descriptor, "white represents purity!" Did Richard Spencer write the script?
I know the symbolism of white clothes. It's still creepy to keep talking about purity every other contestant. What kind of purity, exactly? I can't think of any standard "purity" when applied to a human being that isn't creepy.
Edit: lol anouncers mentioning purity again.
Hmm, kinda neat but I feel like the rose should have been in the center rather than on her shoulder.
Edit: The skirt comes off.