As Miss Norway, Leonora Lysglimt-Rødland did not place at the annual Miss Universe contest, which was held in Thailand last week. But thanks to a costume she wore during the event, her appearance has generated just as much buzz, if not more, than the actual winner.
Ms. Lysglimt-Rødland’s big moment came during the national costume segment of the competition, in which contestants wear intricate regalia inspired by their heritage. In a nod to Norway’s salmon export business, Ms. Lysglimt-Rødland strolled onto the stage covered entirely by a fish costume, which she proceeded to peel open, revealing a shimmering interior.
The costume, and Ms. Lysglimt-Rødland’s presence as she strutted across the stage in it, was an immediate hit on social media.
Mayeth Sigue Codoy, the 36-year-old designer who created the costume, as well as many of Ms. Lysglimt-Rødland’s other competition gowns, explained how the look came together in an interview that has been edited and condensed for clarity.
How did you come to design gowns for Miss Norway?
It started with my friend Julie Tollefsen, who won Miss Norway in 2023. We studied together in fashion school. I had a fashion show in New York Fashion Week that year. I really thought she would have everything, so I was hesitant to call her, but I called and asked, “Do you need some more outfits for Miss Universe? I have these fresh outfits from New York.” And she said “I would love that.” Since then other participants have reached out to me to ask me to help with their gowns.
How did you come up with the idea of designing the salmon gown?
Norway is the biggest supplier of salmon all over the world. The moment that Leonora asked me if I could help her, I said sure, but that we just need to think of what we need, what we’re going to make, because we need to think of something outside the box. We need it to be very different onstage. So I was sitting there working like crazy and I thought: maybe I could make her a salmon. No one else is going to do that. And she liked the idea.
What was the process of making the dress?
I made it using abacá fiber, which is a banana fabric from the Philippines, so it’s very sustainable. It took me two weeks of working on it 24/7 by myself, and then I had one assistant who helped me with the beading. And actually the package with the dress in it arrived the day before, so we didn’t have time to instruct her how to wear it.
So she was technically wearing the dress wrong?
Yes, it was crazy. I was crying the whole day when it showed on TV. I’m a Filipina, I know that Filipinos are very, very perfectionist and that there would be negative comments. I was expecting that, so that’s why I cried. But I don’t blame her; she didn’t have time, and I’m sure she was stressed as well. But she slayed it anyway. Nailed it like crazy.
What was wrong with the way she was wearing it?
She didn’t have it attached to her back. You don’t need to hold it.
Were you surprised by the reaction the dress has gotten online?
The original plan was to make noise, right, and to be different on the stage. So I already expected that there would be people who would be surprised, or have either a negative or positive reaction, you know, because no one is using a costume like that, even from before and even in Norway, right? Really, no one. So I am not really surprised — it’s kind of what we were expecting.
The post At Miss Universe, a Salmon Costume Steals the Show appeared first on New York Times.
