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 Entertainment | May 2007 
Miss Universe Contenders Don Outfits with Dolphins, Corn in Mexican Capital
 Associated Press
| | Rosa Maria Ojeda, Miss Mexico 2007, parades during a Miss Universe's native dress fashion show in Mexico City, Sunday, May 20, 2007. They will compete for the 56th Miss Universe 2007's title next May 28 in Mexico City. (AP) |
Mexico City - Dresses adorned with butterfly wings, dolphins, electric guitars and corn on the cob were onstage in downtown Mexico City on Sunday as the 2007 Miss Universe pageant contestants put on a fashion show reflecting their nations' customs and traditions.
Thousands of spectators packed the capital's main drag, Reforma Avenue, to gaze at the striking, slinky and in some cases bizarre costumes worn by the hopefuls to win the beauty pageant, which will be held here May 28.
One of the most elaborate outfits was worn by Miss Brazil, Natalia Guimaraes, who shouldered huge wings to represent butterflies' migration in the South American nation.
Miss Bolivia, Jessica Jordan Burton, also drew applause when she took the stage in a dress of flowers in the green, red and yellow of her national flag.
But the loudest cheer was saved for Miss Mexico, Rosa Maria Ojeda, whose dress was decorated with a montage of Mexican food, including corn on the cob and tropical fruit, and symbols of pre-Hispanic cultures.
Ojeda's original dress was revised, after critics said its bullet-laden belts and sketches of hangings in reference to Mexico's 1926-1929 Cristero War were too violent.
Other contestants displayed more modern traditions.
Miss USA, Rachel Smith, showed the United States' love for rock and roll, dressing in an Elvis Presley-style white suit and clutching an electric guitar.
A deadlocked Miss Jamaica, or Zahra Redwood, the first Rastafarian to compete for the beauty prize, went for a reggae theme with a T-shirt of singer Bob Marley and a cloak of a lion.
And Inga Skaya wore an ice hockey uniform to represent Canada's favorite sport.
Several contestants from seafaring nations selected marine themes. Miss Denmark, Zaklina Sojic, dressed like a mermaid. And Miss Dominican Republic, Massiel Taveras, shouldered two dolphins and sea plants.
"These are authentic costumes. They show the features of each country," said Laura Angelica Vasquez, 33, who traveled 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the central Mexican town of Tula to watch the show.
Others in the crowd came to protest: A group of women wore white dresses splashed in fake blood, donning sashes proclaiming them Miss Juarez, Miss Atenco and Miss Michoacan in reference to places in Mexico where women have been raped or killed.
"We are not against this event," said Miss Atenco, who would only give her first name, Mariana. "But we are here representing what our country wants to hide: that they kill and rape women."
Miss Mexico Ditches Bullet Dress
Associated Press
| | The floor-length dress, cut from a traditional, natural cotton called manta, was decorated with scenes from Mexico's 1926-1929 Cristero War. |
Miss Mexico will be representing her country in a gown decorated with sketches of corn and cactus fields, after the original design featuring bullets and hanging scenes drew accusations of poor taste, a Miss Universe pageant official said.
"Aesthetically, the dress is beautiful," said Lupita Jones, a former Miss Universe who now runs Miss Mexico operations.
"It is the same model, the only thing we have changed are the decorations, which pained some people."
The original floor-length dress, cut from a traditional, natural cotton called manta, was decorated with scenes from Mexico's 1926-1929 Cristero War.
Tens of thousands of people were killed during the uprising by Roman Catholic rebels against anti-clerical laws.
The modified dress will depict landscapes of corn and cactus fields and decorative elements from Indian cultures.
Also gone is a bandolier of bullets that served as a belt.
Organisers had pledged to change the dress after it unleashed a storm of criticism when it was first shown in March.
Critics said the design opened old wounds and was not appropriate.
Designers who helped select the dress from among 30 entries said they had wanted something that represented the nation's culture and history, especially since Mexico City was hosting the pageant this year.
The pageant culminates on May 28. |
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