The dress is made of 300 hand-painted face masks
Beauty pageants have been a quick escape for many. While the bright lights of the stage, the thrill of the competition, and the charm of the women all over offer a moment of distraction, these contests aren't shy from addressing COVID-19 issues in their shows, whether through speeches or style.
Doing the same thing is Miss Israel Tehila Levi with a dress she will be wearing for the Miss Universe 2020 competition. Together with fashion designer Shai Shalom, the Israeli beauty queen will don the "After COVID," a dress made of 300 face masks.
"This is Israel's national dress that beauty queen Tehila Levi will travel with to represent us in the Miss Universe pageant," Miss Israel Organization posted. "The dress was designed by Shai Shalom from more than three hundred (read them correctly, 300!!) hand-painted corona masks.”
As wearing face masks became a requirement during the pandemic, fashion designers have crafted stylish, reusable face masks people can wear to minimize waste. And with protective gear being viewed as an essential accessory, couture face masks help people to sport something that reflects their personality.
But for the dress, Shain used what seems to be the medical grade ones, even including the elastic cords in the design. Just like brick work, the black and white face masks are sewn together to create a high-low silhouette with a elegant train making a chevron print. This surely takes the face masks fashion game to the next level.
The 69th edition of Miss Universe will take place on May 16, 2021 (May 17 in the Philippines) at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Images from @miss_israel by @amirtsuk.camera