Organisers of Mrs Universe Thailand pageant have slammed the door on the idea of using a gold stupa-styled “Suwan Chedi” dress as an entrant for Best National Costume at a beauty contest in China amid strong religious opposition, Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat said Monday.
Mr Vira said the pageant had notified the ministry that the work on the new dress to be worn by Thailand's representative in the 2016 pageant in Guangzhou in August—31-year-old Kanthicha "Yui" Chimsiri—was already 70% complete.
The design was inspired by Phra Si Rattana Chedi, a 19th-century Sri Lankan-style circular stupa at Bangkok's gilded Temple of the Emerald Buddha, better known as Wat Phra Kaew.
The Chedi was built on the order of King Rama IV in 1855 to enshrine the relics of Lord Buddha.
Pageant organisers were heavily criticised on social media and by the Culture Ministry since the dress was unveiled earlier this month.
Critics said the Phra Si Rattana Chedi and Wat Phra Kaew were sacred sites and long have been revered by Buddhists. Wearing clothing that imitates a chedi of such religious significance in a beauty contest was inappropriate and brings disgrace to Buddhism, they said.
Others said the dress looked too strange and comical to be the Thai national costume.
Mr Vira said he met with Mrs Kanthicha and her manager on Monday and all agreed that the dress should not be used.
Mrs Kanthicha said the dress did not mean to disrespect religion but only promote Thailand's tourist attractions. However, she admitted the dress included religious elements, a very sensitive topic, and she thanked everyone for voicing their opinions.
The revised dress will still be gold, but made of silk and inspired by pla tapian (a Thai fish species) and ear of rice in the paddy, Mrs Kanthicha said.