Yes, we are talking about her appearing in a dress that makes you wonder if she

forgot her underwear. We have to ask: what's the big fuss about?

After all, the right "dress to kill" can launch a career for any number of aspiring stars. Chotiros's dress is obviously inspired by Elizabeth Hurley's safety-pin black dress designed by Versace that she wore to a movie premiere in 1994.

At that time, Hurley was still a struggling aspiring actress. But the safety-pin dress - lent to her by a PR agency - kick-started Hurley's career.

Jennifer Lopez also became the high point at the 2000 Grammy awards by wearing a super-low V-neck line. The dress helped cement her status as the spicy diva of Latin pop music.

Even a bad dress can make for a glowing red-carpet moment. Icelandic singer Bjork was bashed by the fashionistas when she graced the Oscars in 2001 with her swan dress. But her dress was the most memorable event on that night.

Chotiros, an unknown actress until her own red-carpet debut, would have blended into the crowd of the "wannabes" if she had picked a conservative dress.

As things turned out, Chotiros kicked the regular stars off the front page. Methinee Kingphayome and Marsha Wattanapanich were suddenly off the radar screen.

The only unforgivable sin Chotiros committed might be that she outshone the venue of the event: Nakhon Ratchasima.

Suwat Liptapanlop was instrumental in bringing the Subhanahongsa Awards ceremony from Bangkok to his northeastern constituency to promote the province and

score political points before the backdrop of his new political party.

A few days before the event, during his 52nd birthday party at home, Suwat and his 29-member Lam Ta Kong faction announced their resignations from the Thai Rak Thai Party and the formation of a "path of reconciliation" alliance.

Thus The Nation's editors assigned political reporters to closely follow the awards ceremony to see who's who backstage and observe how Suwat would use the event to reload his political career.

The Subhanahongsa Awards started in the early evening with Suwat making a long speech about his efforts to promote tourism by bringing all these superstars to the province.

However, the second Chotiros stepped out of her limousine, the audience lost all interest in what Suwat had to say. Our political reporters instantly turned into paparazzi who suddenly forgot where the awards ceremony was being held.

You can blame it on the dress but spare Chotiros for making the right choice.

Jeerawat@nationgroup.com