The preliminary round for the Miss Universe pageant began this week, and one of the competitors is already in the news. During the evening gown round, Miss Thailand Anna Sueangam-iam dazzled the audience with a dress constructed of soda tabs.
Since Sueangam-iam posted a picture of the dress on Instagram, it has received more than 150,000 likes, catapulting it to online fame. The “Hidden Precious Diamond Dress,” an upcycled outfit created by the company Manirat, blends Swarovski crystals and soda can pull tabs made of aluminum.
The outfit also has a secret meaning. The soda tabs honor Sueangam-iam’s background in some way. She stated on Instagram that the familiar settings of her upbringing served as inspiration for the dress. “Because my parents worked as garbage collectors, I spent much of my youth surrounded by waste and recyclables. This one-of-a-kind gown was specifically fashioned of recycled and wasted materials, such as the “Can Tab,” to demonstrate to the UNIVERSE that even things that are seen as useless by many people have their inner beauty and value. We are grateful that you all saw it, heard it, and perhaps internalized the message of self-worth.”
Sueangam-iam now wishes to make use of her platform to represent and amplify the views of young people from disadvantaged situations. She is presently employed by several charitable groups, including Smile Train Thailand. On Saturday at 7 p.m. ET, The Roku Channel will stream the Miss Universe crown. In Spanish, Telemundo will also carry it.
