Indonesia's Ayu Maulida unveils 'Komodo dragon' national costume for the 69th Miss Universe pageant

Miss Universe Indonesia 2020 Ayu Maulida has unveiled her national costume for the 69th Miss Universe pageant in a press conference held at The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Mega Kuningan on Thursday, April 22.

Fashion designer Diana Putri of Diana Couture and accessories designer Yuling Hoo and Silvy Prajogo of Le Ciel Design have collaborated to create the costume inspired by the Komodo dragon.

Reaching up to 10 feet in length and more than 300 pounds, Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth. Native to Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years, the Komodo dragon is often referred to as “the last link to the prehistoric dinosaurs.”

Consisting of over 5000 unique scales to create the most opulent yet realistic approach, the national costume features a komodo headpiece, a sequin 3D black and gold reversible base, and a 3D chest piece and dramatic tail. Beadwork was done by hand while all the metal plates to resemble the scales were hand-stitched.

The most intricate process was the engineering aspect of the costume with the handmade headpiece connected to a robotic system combining motor, sensory, and a microcontroller, and the light-up choker and gloves that were created with a LED controller.

Photos: Royal Story Picture / Puteri Indonesia

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