#SHOWBIZ: Melinda Looi: 'Aina Abdul's volcanic outfit features 5kg of charcoal'

KUALA LUMPUR: Fashion designer Melinda Looi crafted Aina Abdul's striking outfit for the 40th Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL) finale, incorporating a whopping five kilograms of charcoal. In a follow-up Instagram post, Melinda revealed the inspiration behind the performance piece, explaining how the volcanic theme embodied the raw emotions at the heart of the song "Kamu."

Drawing on concepts of burning, destruction, and transformation, Melinda sought to convey an emotion that simmered just beneath the surface before finally erupting. To achieve this, the costume was constructed from a range of materials, including charcoal, Swarovski crystals, nylon fringe, and glass bead fringe, all of which came together to create a dynamic, ever-changing visual display.

Melinda emphasized that the outfit was more than just a visual spectacle, serving as an integral part of the storytelling in Aina's performance. By embracing the "Art of Eruption" theme, the designer was able to capture the essence of the song and its message, demonstrating how fashion can be used to tell a powerful narrative. Aina's hard work paid off at the AJL 40, as she was awarded both the Best Performance trophy and the Shopee Icon award, and was chosen to represent Malaysia at the Eurovision Asia Song Contest 2026.