On 22 October 2025, Mrs. Kanokwan Pengsuwan, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Lisbon, hosted a welcoming lunch in honour of Ms. Camila Vitorino, Miss Universe Portugal 2025, at the Ambassador’s Residence.

Ms. Camila Vitorino expressed her deep interest in Thai art and culture and shared her admiration for the Sala Thai (Thai Pavilion) at the Vasco da Gama Garden in Belém which was presented by the Royal Thai Government to the Portuguese Government in 2012 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Thailand–Portugal relations. Sala Thai stands as a symbol of the long-standing friendship between the two countries. Portugal was the first Western country to establish contact with Thailand during the Ayutthaya period, leaving cultural influences still visible today in the Thai language and cuisine—particularly in Thai desserts.

Inspired by this cultural connection, Ms. Camila expressed her wish to wear traditional Thai costume and contacted the Royal Thai Embassy in Lisbon which received great support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Surat Jongda. Her initiative helps promote awareness of Royal Thai Costume or “Chud Thai”, which has been nominated for inscription on the UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).

Ms. Camila Vitorino, Miss Universe Portugal 2025, wore a Chud Thai Chakkraphat for a photoshoot at the Sala Thai in Lisbon and at the Ambassador’s Residence, prior to traveling to Thailand to participate in the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in November 2025.