As many will know, the annual Miss Hong Kong (香港小姐競選) pageant is currently ongoing! Despite the finalists having been determined, several contestants have already dropped out, including one finalist, Jennifer Zhou (周婷).
Still, as the saying goes; the show must go on, and go on it did! The girls have already performed one of the most anticipated sections in the Miss Hong Kong pageant, that is, the swimsuit event. But, it seems that despite their best efforts, their swimsuits this year aren’t as impressive as before.
The swimwear section in Miss Hong Kong is one of the most highly anticipated events as the girls get to flaunt their figure. And for 2023, the girls took off to Vietnam to strut their swimsuits. This year’s swimsuits were a simple blush pink or emerald green with a notable V-shaped suspender adorning the lower half of their swimsuit.
However, Hong Kong News (港聞) claims 2023’s swimsuit design hasn’t differed much from precious years, save for the colour. They speculated that this may be to avoid complaints from the audience. Compared to previous years, it certainly seems as though they have gotten less bold with their swimsuit designs.
For instance, the swimsuit design in 2013 definitely left little to the imagination. Coloured hot pink with striking black stripes forming eye-catching geometric shapes, these swimsuits had a deep V-cut starting from their neck and ending at their navel. It certainly helped the girls stand out then!
And although the swimsuits in 2016 were simple in design and pattern, they nonetheless suited the girls who wore them, especially Tiffany Lau (劉穎鏇) and Andrea So (蘇韻姿). Those in 2019 and 2021 took a slightly different choice with their swimwear, however, their effects were memorable.
While the swimsuit in 2019 is similar in design to 2023’s, they used an amphibole pattern to distinguish the girls. Additionally, for 2021, they got a little more creative, attaching a hula skirt to the lower half of the swimsuit, which creative a festive look.
However, it seems Miss Hong Kong swimsuit designs truly peaked ten years ago, when they were more creative and much bolder. In 1987, instead of a strapped top, the girls used to wear strapless bikinis. Michelle Reis (李嘉欣) made waves in 1988 with a low cut, high slit one-piece while Lee San-san (李珊珊) cut a stunning figure with a netted, see-through top.
Still, less is more, sometimes. And while the designs of the swimsuits themselves aren’t as eye-catching, it does ensure the girls themselves will be the stars of the show. In the meantime, look forward to the finale of the pageant as they continue to prepare for it!
