Christopher Ditsas has never entered a competition of such enormity. Having found himself within the top-four finalists – out of several hundred applicants – for the Elucent Skincare National Costume Competition, if he’s successful, Ditsas’ dress will represent Australia at the Miss Universe pageant in December.

The Sydney-based designer first heard about the competition on Channel 7’s Sunrise program, and thought it would be a good chance to reinvigorate a career in design that he “put on the back-burner” following the global financial crisis of 2007-8. The competition criteria required an element of Australian culture or imagery, which he believes his design encapsulates.

“I was trying to think of what represents the Australian landscape, and I literally thought of a tin shed, a tin roof, corrugated iron in the outback and Australian native blooms, which are very specific to our country. I put the two different things together into a design and tried to make things look interesting,” Ditsas told Neos Kosmos.

The one-man project involved Ditsas sketching the design, making the pattern, pleating and sowing the fabric and then placing the Australian inspired flora on the back of the dress.

If successful, Ditsas will be notified by competition organisers on October 3, when voting closes on Sunrise’s website. He will have to prepare himself for an official costume launch at Sydney’s Hyde Park three days later.

When asked about his chances of going all the way, Ditsas is very measured.

“I guess it’s mixed feelings – pride of course for being selected and confidence in the design because it’s something I believe in. But then also you need to have a few reservations because what the other girls did is fairly cool as well, so I guess when it comes down to a vote you really don’t know.”

Voting for a dress that will represent Australia at the Miss Universe pageant in December closes at 10.00 pm AEST on 3 October 2014. To vote, visit https://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/competitions/miss-universe-face-of-austr…