There is no real award for it and the competition is yet to kick off but the critics are already girding their loins to strike to where it hurts most. The National Costumes of some of the Miss World delegates are under attack and most attackers are succeeding at the national level. Consider Australia where fashion critics' most awaited moment is the presentation of national costume of Australian candidates. Donning a costume inspired by Australian Aboriginal art, Miss World Australia Jessica Kahawaty's national costume for Miss World 2012 was called as "very un-Australian" and fashion critics whined as to why does their "national costume always need to be so cringe-worthy?"

Meanwhile in Puerto Rico, critics swarmed over the National Costume of Janelee Chaparro accusing the Miss World PR designers of stealing the ideas of the people who designed the National Costume of Miss Universe PR 2011 Viviana Ortiz Pastrana. Both costumes are inspired by the carnivals in the enchanted island but in no way an exact copy. This fact did not deter the critics of crying foul prompting the national director of Miss Universe PR Desiree Lowry to come into the defense of the rival pageant.

And the critics are everywhere. They called Miss Mauritius Shalini Panchoo's costume (above) as irrelevant and cheap. While Miss Sweden Sanna Jinnedal's costume (below) was described as boring. Well, criticisms are good because it is a way to which one can improve for the better. But as in the case of Australia, it has become the hobby of the fashion observers to the point that it is no longer constructive. It has become a hobby of sorts and it seems they really can't offer better alternatives. They just criticize for fun and nothing else and the end result is that the contestant may no longer feel comfortable and confident with her costume. This could hit the morale of the delegate. Thus, perhaps it is time for the fashion critics to be more responsible when it comes to criticizing and it would be best if they are to offer better alternatives. After all, being a critic is easy. Designing a creative national costume is not.