Miss Universe Thailand 2020 Amanda Obdam’s national costume for Miss Universe 2020 was finalized in the month of December 2020 and the costume was created by taking inspiration from ‘Lady in Literature’ combined with the colours of ‘fighting fish’. The ‘Trirong Anongnat Suphanmacha’ is designed by Akarat Phusanaphong.

The famous designer stated that the costume was created with inspiration “Mrs. Suphan Macha” Mrs. in the literature of the Ramayana by bringing the beauty and dignity of Mrs. Suphan Macha, but transformed into the beauty of “Thai fighting fish”; National marine animals that are valuable and colourful, enhanced with the colours of the tricolor flag on the swaying fins. This pattern is a virtual pattern of the short-tailed fish, the national flag pattern.

Now, Miss Grand Laos 2020 Phatthana Khidaphone is all set to parade the stage with in her national costume named; “Laos Fighting Fish,” which is very similar to Amanda’s Trirong Anongnat Suphamnmach national costume. The Thai fans have expressed their utter disappointment and outrage towards the Miss Grand Laos organization for copying the design of Miss Universe Thailand 2020’s costume.

The Miss Universe Thailand organization stated that the controversial move by Laos won’t change a thing and Amanda Obdam will grace the stage of Miss Universe 2020 in her already finalized costume inspired by the Siamese Fighting Fish.

On the other hand, the costume designer for Miss Grand Laos; Khumpee Arangkarn who is Thai stated that no country has a monopoly on dressing their pageant contestants in fish costumes. Khumpee has been designing costumes for contestants from Laos for years and in 2018, his design won at the Miss Universe pageant. He says everything’s fair game in the world of cut-throat beauty pageants. He added, “Every country can do a fish costume, and Laos doesn’t need to give in and change it. It’s not that I think Laos shouldn’t back down for Thailand, but if the USA does a fish costume, others can’t do the same? It is a competition after all, and everybody wants to win.”

Akarach Pusonphong said the team that designed Miss Grand Laos 2020’s costume should do the right thing. “Understand your mistake and accept it, learn how to say sorry. Whether this is a [marketing] trick or whatever, it’s something they just shouldn’t do,” he added.

The Thai pageant fans have taken to their social media to express their anger towards the uncanny similarity in both the national costumes. Some wrote, “While there are betta fish found across the border, “Laos Fighting Fish” has never been a thing, and everyone knows the fish are Team Thailand despite red, white, and blue comprising both nation’s flags.”

Another user wrote, “There is no such thing as a Laos Fighting Fish. The only origin of the fighting fish in the world is Thailand. It’s a kind of national treasure.” Miss Grand Laos 2020 Phatthana Khidaphone is all set to wear the costume and parade at the National Costume competition at Miss Grand International 2020 and Miss Universe Thailand 2020 Amanda Obdam is also most likely to go ahead with the same outfit.

What do you think?