Vietnam’s entrant in this year’s Miss Universe pageant caused a stir online when she appeared in a baguette-themed costume aimed at representing her country.
H’Hen Nie, Miss Vietnam 2017 and representative of her country at Miss Universe 2018, chose to dress up as a banh mi, a popular Vietnamese baguette sandwich, in the national costume segment of the pageant, The Straits Times reported.
Nie appears to be hemmed in by three baskets of baguettes, meat and vegetable fillings with an emerald green fabric gathered around her waist. The dress was chosen over five other costumes, including lantern and dragon costumes.
However, the outfit caused a stir online, including some who thought it looked ugly. Others suggested she was the meat in the sandwich. Nie defended her decision and said the costume represented Vietnam.
“Whether you go to the poorest areas of the North and Central Highlands, or the most exquisite places of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, you will find the presence of bread. For foreigners, seeing banh mi and pho (noodle soup), they will think of Vietnam,” Nie said.
This year’s Miss Universe pageant will be held at the Muang Thong Thani complex in Nonthaburi in Thailand on December 17.
