The oldest-running international beauty pageant hosted the world’s most beautiful women under one roof at Puerto Rico for the Miss World Top Model event.
This activity was done as a prelude to the 70th Miss World pageant on 16 December.
The Miss World Top Model competition gave some of Creation’s most beautiful women an opportunity to showcase their best catwalk in their national dresses and then decked out by Puerto Rican designers.
The first place went to Olivia Yace of Cote d’Ivoire, followed by Audrey Monkam of Cameroon and Aryam Diaz of Puerto Rico.
The Miss Top Model show did not only end on a high note but has also showcased exquisite designs that stole the show. Although our own Palesa Molefe did not end among the Miss World Top Model show’s top 3, her design was breathtaking. Here is a sampling of some of the designs that set tongues wagging.
Miss Botswana
Palesa Molefe’s outfit befitted the story of her home country’s roots and heritage. The cape furnished outfit highlighted the creativity of local designers too.
“The gown was designed by Mumsy Oremeng of Versatile Creations. It is a 3-piece outfit of a boob-tube top made of leather, with a traditional Botswana-inspired short leather skirt, an oversized cape and an overlapping shoulder detail. The inspiration of the gown is based on women as caregivers and builders of nations. It is about the impact of women on growth of the economy and their ability to turn dreams into reality,” said Miss Botswana Public Relations Officer, Kaone Moremong.
Miss South Africa
Known for their array of high-class fashion designers, it seems South African designers have joined forces to rally behind their Queen. Not only is she pulling all the fashion stops but Shudufhadzo Musida’s red-winged outfit was impeccable.
The outfit is said to have been created by Warrick Gautier. “The fitted silhouette in a cherry red crepe serves to showcase Miss South Africa as a strong and confident woman,” said the Miss South Africa Organization.
Attached is a silk chiffon cape to show that women can be both strong and feminine. The beaded off-shoulder detail is inspired by the Miss South Africa crown that celebrates her country and the people she is representing.
Miss Côte d’Ivoire
Olivia Yace did not only scoop the Miss World Top Model title but showed the world Africa’s most creative dress. The gorgeous Queen wore her exquisite outfit with grace and class, setting fashion streets ablaze.
The costume is a unique ensemble of a dress accessorized with cowries, complete with a statement kente print and a cowry-embossed headpiece. Sharing with her fans on her Instagram page, the Ivorian model and beauty queen explained the symbolism of her national costume.
“This traditional outfit tells the story of the Akan woman of Cote d’Ivoire,” she wrote. “It represents the beauty, femininity, and braveness embodied by the women of this ethnic group. This costume, which was totally handmade and carefully crafted with Akan-woven loincloth, celebrates the woman as a child-bearer and a life-giver.
“The cowry shells that make up the centerpiece come from the ocean and symbolize creation, life and protection. They are interlaced and run all along the body to portray the beautiful waves and waterfalls of Cote d’Ivoire. The headdress represents a calabash full of water that the Akan woman carries on her head as she returns from the river. It is a source of life, and it symbolizes hard work. The orange stripe of the Ivorian orange-white-green flag expresses the splendor of national blossoming.”
Miss Morocco
Morocco was selected among the contestants with the best cultural outfits at the competition. The Nubian Queen was draped in a beautifully crafted outfit which was a fusion of fabrics from different parts of Cameroon, beats and leaves.
Audrey Monkam made history for Morocco as for the first time in a Miss World competition, a Cameroonian Miss has been awarded second place in the Miss World Top Model competition.
Morocco did outstanding and made her way to the top 3 alongside Miss Puerto Rico and Miss Ivory Coast.
