Blake's ‘Lazy Fashion’ Comments Criticised By Contestants On Facebook

An uproar has been ignited among the 2019 Miss Fiji Pageant participants by statements made by a “Fashion Police” in one of Fiji’s leading fashion shows on national television.

Twenty-two-year-old Azeria Prynsas Narayan’s red gown worn on the crowning night of the 2019 Miss Fiji Pageant was called “lazy fashion” and not meeting “pageant standards” on national air.

These comments were made on one of Fiji’s leading fashion TV shows, Jejemon, by its host Andhy Blake.

Andhy Blake runs a segment that is called “Burn it or Keep It” on Jejemon that airs on the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation’s (FBC) channel every Thursday at 7.45pm.

“Andy Blake had a ‘Keep It or Burn It’ session with the contestants’ dresses for the crowning night. He called my gown ‘lazy fashion’ and ‘not pageant standards’ therefore burning it,” Miss Rakiraki 2018, Azeria Narayan said.

Little did Mr Blake know that this red gown that had not met “pageant standards” was designed and sewn by young Ms Narayan’s mother the night before the crowning of the Miss Fiji contest.

Upon receiving only $500 from the Rakiraki Town Council, Ms Narayan’s mum, who owns a successful local brand, “Haz”, decided to style her daughter.

Miss Rakiraki 2018 Azeria Prynsas Narayan wearing the hand-sewn gown by her mother that was burned on FBC's Jejemon on national television.

“Pageant contestants must never have excuses about lack of budgets or last-minute preparations.

“From the minute you decide you are going to enter; you prepare yourself and get your wardrobes filled with as many glamorous dresses as possible. Contestants will be parading on a stage and are putting themselves out there for the public including myself to judge so you want to present yourself in the public eye dressed in the best possible attire. Pageants are not a stage to experiment your fashion sense, you are vying for a job and in this case, the Miss Fiji title, which enables the young woman to becoming our country’s ambassador to the Miss Pacific Islands pageant.

“Pageants are a platform to raise your opinions and bring light to causes close to a contestant’s heart. In order to capture the attention of the public and the judges, you must dress well. Contestants are first heard with how they are styled and dressed during the week and this is a subtle way of commanding attention. Once the spotlight is on you, use it wisely and that is where eloquence plays an important part of a contestant’s preparation.”

Edited by Ivamere Nataro

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