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Miss Universe Thailand Anna Sueangam-iam’s dress made of garbage is a tribute to her childhood

Miss Universe Thailand Anna Sueangam-iam’s dress made of garbage is a tribute to her childhood

Having grown up with "garbage collector parents", the Thai model's dress, a mix of soda can tabs and Swarovski crystals, presented a symbolic statement.
16 Jan, 2023

Pageants may be viewed as beauty contests by many but it’s when the contestants bring a personal touch to the front that makes the platform shine. Miss Universe Thailand 2022 Anna Sueangam-iam dazzled the audience with her metallic dress last year. Zooming in revealed that the dress was made entirely of soda can tabs combined with Swarovski crystals. The Thai model represented a piece of her personal history with this dress.

She shared photos of her outfit on Instagram titled, “My Gown — My Personal Statement to the Universe”. In the caption, she explained why it was no ordinary dress, rather a very meaningful one. “This gown was inspired by the familiar surroundings of my childhood. Growing up with garbage collector parents, my life as a child was among piles of garbage and recyclables.”

The “Hidden Precious Diamond Dress”, created from hundreds of aluminium soda tabs, was designed by Thailand-based brand Manirat. It captured the model’s personal journey in life as a diamond in the rough. “This unique gown was purposefully tailor-made with discarded and recycled materials, namely the can tab to present to the universe that what’s considered worthless by many actually possesses its own value and beauty,” she wrote.

Sueangam-iam recently went viral for this look and some called her “the garbage beauty queen”. She concluded by appreciating all those who sent her love saying, “Thank you all for seeing it, hearing it and hopefully, being that message of self-worth.”

The 24-year-old was raised in Bangkok, Thailand with her father before being sent away to a Buddhist temple to be raised among nuns, as mentioned in her Miss Universe bio, according to People. Having been raised in poverty, she had to collect merit points, donate blood every semester, collect plastic waste bottles and clean bathrooms in order to pay for her school tuition.

Her experiences inspired her to take on the platform of advocating for equal access to education for underprivileged children during her reign as Miss Universe Thailand, working with non-profits like Smile Train Thailand to connect children with educational means.

She wore the dress in the Miss Universe 2022 competition but sadly, failed to make it in the top 16. However, she walked away with the Impact Wave Leadership award for her advocacy.

Comments

Just@Man Jan 16, 2023 03:23pm
What a ghastly dress
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Zak Jan 16, 2023 03:34pm
However, she walked away with the Impact Wave Leadership award for her advocacy Miss Thailand is beautiful in heart and soul. Congratulations.
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NYS Jan 16, 2023 03:38pm
Compliment to Miss Universe Statement costume!
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M. Saeed Jan 16, 2023 03:44pm
Garbage queen!
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MG Jan 16, 2023 03:46pm
Simply great journey
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Tanvir Khan Jan 16, 2023 04:13pm
The most toxic garbage is the more than 8 billion humans on earth, who in turn produce about 2.3 kg of garbage per person per day!
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Dagu Jan 16, 2023 05:22pm
There is a garbage heap 150 meters high near posh new delhi colony.
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Soniye Tu Auder Te La Jan 16, 2023 06:40pm
Sherni.
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Taj Ahmad Jan 16, 2023 06:44pm
‘Wow’ this is a great examples and tribute to her parents, congrats to new Miss Universe.
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well-wisher Jan 16, 2023 08:12pm
Great initiative, Anna. You have won the hearts of many in our troubled universe. No one should forget their difficult childhood days - they humble them. Best for future.
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Constantine Jan 16, 2023 08:33pm
Beautiful, kind and classy.
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Raj - USA Jan 16, 2023 09:25pm
She got inspiration from Uorfi Javed !!!!
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Hanna Jan 16, 2023 09:52pm
@Just@Man does a recycled material dress scare you Mr elite guy?bet you can't stand to live a day in this model's poor childhood
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KJ Jan 16, 2023 11:37pm
@Just@Man are you just being arrogant, just because you can choose to be one, or that you lack proper empathy and understanding, for human beings in general?
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KJ Jan 16, 2023 11:38pm
@Hanna , well said! Some people lack empathy and decency expected of normal human beings.
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M. Emad Jan 16, 2023 11:51pm
She looks like a Pakistani.
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Just@Man Jan 17, 2023 01:01am
@Hanna scare me? That dress is not even able to cover her skin, where it's present, let alone where it isn't. I am far from elite! You don't know me dear. Don't judge me and think I am some elite type:)
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GettingThere Jan 17, 2023 01:04am
Ok..so no one is more beautiful than her in the entire universe??
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tamza Jan 17, 2023 07:23am
@Just@Man better than ANY wedding dress I have seen in Pakistan
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EmptyCoffers Jan 17, 2023 07:37am
@Zak " Miss Thailand is beautiful in heart and soul. Congratulations.. ' Some backward societies cover their females with a Black Tent...
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Tariq Houston Jan 17, 2023 08:40am
@Dagu whole of Pakistan is a heap of garbage and now Pakistan is rated as low middle income country with very high rate of illiteracy and ignorance
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El Cid Jan 17, 2023 08:52am
Putting it together likely cost a small fortune in labor and design costs.
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Texas Tariq Jan 17, 2023 09:17am
And our overpaid garbage actors in Pak and Ind..., wear the best expensive dresses to cover up the lack of talent. Learn something from this lady.... Be real.
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Texas Tariq Jan 17, 2023 09:17am
@Tanvir Khan most of it in India.
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Nadeem Shah USA Jan 17, 2023 09:20am
@EmptyCoffers maybe because they're beautiful and why they are covered up like jewels, and in some societies they wear skimpy clothes like Saris baring lots of skin but no one wants to look at them still.... Take India for example, who wants that? Should get them a tent instead.
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Sane Mind1st Jan 17, 2023 11:10am
@Nadeem Shah USA your comments says a lot about your mentality. I pray for your wife and daughters, if in your life.
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