Officials and sponsors announce the
Miss Qipao contest to be held at Central Festival Pattaya Beach.
Warunya Thongrod
Pattaya will help celebrate Chinese New Year with a beauty contest
featuring women in body-hugging Qipao dresses Feb. 2.
City councilman Rattanachai Sutidechanai and Central Festival General Manager
Teerapon Jitnawa announced the mandarin dress competition Jan. 10.
The “year of the snake” celebration marks 46 years of relations between Thailand
and China and, city officials hope, will promote Chinese tourism to Pattaya. A
traditional Chinese show will be held by the Pattaya Star Academy.
“The Chinese New Year Festival is one of the most important festive events in
Thailand and has always been a major attraction to foreign tourists,”
Rattanachai said. “The Miss Qipao pageant is a great activity, especially before
reaching the Chinese New Year, which enhances the tourism market of Pattaya.”
Qipao dresses, more commonly called “cheongsam,” are snug, one-piece dresses won
by both men and women in China. However, the stylish and often tight-fitting
qipao is most often associated today with those created in the 1920s in Shanghai
and made fashionable by socialites and upper-class women.
First prize in the pageant to be held at Central Festival will carry a 30,000
baht prize and gifts worth another 30,000 baht. Contestants will be judged not
only on their attire, but talent as well. The pageant is open to girls and women
ages 15-25. For more information, see Facebook .com/missqipaocontest or call
038-730-844. Contestants can register through Feb. 2.
