Twenty-two-year-old Miss Thailand World Nonthawan "Maeya" Thongleng will have plenty of people rooting for her when she vies for the Miss World crown in London on December 14. Her gown - maybe not so much.
After the usual flurry of consultations and fittings, Maeya modelled what was billed as her "traditional Thai" costume for the press on Tuesday. Many photos were duly taken. Much feedback was unduly harsh.
Twitter, Facebook and Pantip.com erected high walls of criticism, a consensus emerging that the outfit is just too "strange" and was perhaps inspired by a chicken coop. Its shape is a crime against Maeya's admirable figure, people complained.