Miss Universe organisers: Philippines, not Malaysia, won Best National Costume

The national costumes of Miss Malaysia (left) and Miss Philippines.

Oops! It looks like Steve Harvey was right all along! Miss Philippines Gazini Ganados, and not Miss Malaysia Shweta Sekhon, is the rightful winner of the Best National Costume crown at the recent Miss Universe 2019 pageant at Atlanta in the United States.

It was initially reported that Harvey had made a mistake in announcing that Miss Philippines had won the award, as Shweta corrected the host by saying “It’s not Philippines. It’s Malaysia, ” while standing beside him on stage.

However, the Miss Universe organisers clarified on its official Twitter account that Miss Philipplines was the rightful winner after all, and that Shweta had 'jumped the gun' in correcting Harvey.

.@IAmSteveHarvey had it right: Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados is the winner of the #MissUniverse2019 National Costume competition! Congratulations, Gazini. pic.twitter.com/L8DpAyNL9I — Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) December 9,2019

It was announced that Malaysia won the award in an earlier post from the same Twitter account. That post has now been mysteriously deleted.

The earlier tweet by the Miss Universe official Twitter account, announcing Miss Malaysia Shweta Sekhon as the winner. The tweet has since been deleted.

Named “A Peranakan Indulgence”, Miss Malaysia's costume was designed by Malaysian couturier Carven Ong who was inspired by the rich heritage of the Peranakan community and its bridal traditions.

The elaborate design sports a bodice of woven Malay brocade songket. It also has a pair of wings made out of Nyonya kebaya fabric, commonly worn by Peranakan ladies.

Arranged around the gown is an array of Peranakan treats such as onde-onde, kueh koci, ang ku, kueh talam, kueh lapis, kueh sago and auspicious red eggs. A traditional basket, the bakul sia, also made an appearance.