MERLIONS, giant orchids, what’s next?

Thankfully, this year’s Miss Singapore World’s national costume will steer clear of the mascot- like themes publicly roasted in previous pageants.

Miss Pilar Carmelita Arlando, 20, will be strutting on the global stage in a national costume which has Indian, Malay and Chinese influences all rolled into one.

The New Paper was given an exclusive look at the $5,000 mustard-coloured costume.

The cost comes mainly from the silk, lace and workmanship.

The design and the workmanship by a seamstress in Jakarta, Indonesia, took six months in all.

The costume combines a high, stiff cheongsam collar with a kebaya top and a skirt made with Indian silk.

The hefty 5kg costume, studded with sequins, precious jewels, crystals and beads, was designed by two former beauty queens.

Mrs Siti Ahmad, 33, Mrs Singapore Worldwide 2008 and Mrs Emma Ramlan, 44, Mrs Worldwide International 2002, were the co-designers.

They have been running De Queenz, an event and pageant business for the last six years, and have been designing gowns for pageants for about a year.

For this year’s Miss Singapore World national costume, they were approached by ERM event director Tracy Lee and readily agreed.

Said Mrs Ahmad: “It is an honour for us to see our designs on a representative of Singapore.”

Moreover, she added: “It’s very meaningful for us, seeing as we were both beauty queens, to design the gown for Pilar.”

Mrs Ahmad explained that she and Mrs Ramlan had decided against creating a loud costume that would seem cartoonish.

She said: “Some of the costumes in previous pageants have looked comical or Halloween-like.

“So compared to a Merlion or orchid theme, I guess ours may seem more minimal in our approach.”

While she knows that national costumes are prone to public criticism, it’s something that she’s prepared for. “It’s really up to the individual if they want to critique the costume,” said Mrs Ahmad.

Miss Arlando who is of Chinese, Indian, Portuguese and Dutch heritage said of the national costume: “I’m really happy with it because it fits well, is comfortable and it shows off the fusion of our cultures.”

Is she glad that her dress isn’t a Merlion or orchid this year?

She said: “Even if the costume were an orchid or Merlion, I would still wear it because it is a symbol of Singapore and I represent Singapore, so I wouldn’t mind wearing it.”

National icons – the orchid and the Merlion – influenced the costume in the past two years.

These dresses received some flak from critics who said the dresses were unflattering.

Miss Tan Yong Ying, Miss Intercontinental 2009 wore a Merlion-inspired national costume, as did Miss Shenise Wong, Miss Singapore Universe 2008.

This year’s Miss Singapore Universe Rachel Kum wore an orchid influenced costume.

Fully sponsored

Mrs Ahmad and Mrs Ramlan fully sponsored the costume. Similarly Miss Arlando’s $4,800 evening gown is created and sponsored by Mrs Yvonne Tan, 47, a designer of 20 years.

She has dressed at least 15 beauty queens from various pageants since 2004 for no fee.

Mrs Tan said: “Mainly, it’s to see my designs on the world stage and to represent Singapore in my own way.”

Besides it’s good business sense in the long run.

She pointed out that some of the past beauty queens she has dressed have returned to her shop Yvonne Creative on Tanjong Pagar Road to make other gowns after the competition.

In the meantime, Miss Arlando is busy preparing for the Miss World finals in Johannesburg, South Africa, next month.

The 1.69m-tall beauty told The New Paper that she is rehearsing diligently, especially for the preliminary round.

Such fast track preliminary events include various categories like talent, beauty with a purpose (about community work involvement) and sports, amongst others.

The winner of each fast track event then automatically qualifies for a spot in top 15.

Miss Arlando, a travel tourism and hospitality management student at the Management Development Institute of Singapore is most confident in the talent category.

She has been dancing since she was five and plans to perform a contemporary piece set to crooner Leona Lewis’ Yesterday.

She has been practising her routine four times a week for about three hours each time.

And does she plan on bringing a title home?

Miss Arlando said: “I’m going with an open mind and heart so that I approach it in a positive way.

“Whether or not I win an award I know that I’m a winner already.”

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This article was first published in The New Paper.