‘National costume’ given pageant revamp

LOOKING more Zena than Granuaile and with enough cloth to clothe a small village, Rozanna Purcell unveiled a new take on the Irish national costume in the latest round of Miss Universe.

The Clonmel-born beauty was lining out in the National Costume section of the Miss Universe beauty pageant wearing an assemblage of garments nothing like the garish gúnas traditionally associated with Irish dance.

Wearing a headpiece held in place by a headband and a skirt of similar size, there was little to immediately hint at a gaelic association, with the exception of the word “Ireland” emblazoned across a sash held in place by a tiny tricolour.