The Miss Israel organization revealed Tehila Levi’s national costume for Miss Universe 2020 on 11th April 2021, through a social media post where they disclosed, “This is Israel's national dress that beauty queen Tehila Levy will travel with to represent us in the Miss Universe pageant !! The dress was designed by Shai Shalom from more than three hundred (read them correctly, 300!!) hand-painted corona masks.”
According to the revelation, the Israeli beauty queen will wear a dress made of more than 300 face masks, an amazing idea that the Moscow-based designer Shai Shalom came up with. He used very normal face masks which do not change shape. The face masks were hand-painted and sewn together to create the black and white evening gown.
Explaining the idea behind the costume, Levi said, “The masks represent the Corona-Pandemic and I’m happy to wear them and the fact that they have become a fashion accessory is an amazing idea.” The dress will be worn by Tehila Levi, the current beauty queen from Israel, at the Miss Universe pageant to be held in the USA next month. She also acknowledges that it is an original and ingenious idea reminiscent of a pandemic and affirms that the initiative is likely to help him succeed in the Miss Universe pageant.
The designers have not modified the masks; they have even left the elastic cords. It is a symbol both of the difficult times we live in and of the possibility of using things for different purposes. The message of the project is: "We are here, we will be and we look forward to a better future." This one of a kind dress, at first glance might not look like anything special, but if observed closely will certainly turn heads and catch many eyes.
Miss Universe 2020 will host the National Costume competition on 13th May 2021 with a live broadcast. Miss Universe Israel 2020 Tehila Levi will represent Israel at the 69th edition of Miss Universe on 16th May 2021 in the United States. The winner will succeed Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi from South Africa for the title.