Model Julia Orayen's tight white dress cameo in Mexico debate sparks frenzy

Former Playboy model Julia Orayen catapulted the first of Mexico's presidential TV debates to the forefront of the world's media - for all the wrong reasons - after making a fleeting appearance dressed in a revealing white frock.

Playboy model Julia Orayen thrust Mexican politics into the limelight after she wore an inappropriate dress during her presidential debate cameo (Picture: YouTube)

The glamour-model-turned-production assistant seized the limelight during Sunday night's televised address as she handed out cards determining the order that candidates would speak.

Dressed in a white floor-length number, Ms Orayen's cameo would have slipped under the radar - had it not have been for the gaping hole in the front of her dress which flaunted her very ample cleavage.

The fashion faux-pas even managed to distract former Mexican foreign minister Jorge Castaneda, who tweeted: 'The best was the girl in white with the cleavage at the beginning.'


But Alfredo Figueroa, director of the Federal Electoral Institute responsible for organising the debate, insisted he had requested an assistant in 'sober dress' and said Ms Orayen's appearance has distracted from the issues.


Ms Orayen revealed she was instructed to wear a long, white dress and opted for something from her own wardrobe.

The gaping dress has caused quite a stir worldwide (Picture: Reuters)

'It was my only choice for a long dress. I didn't think it would reveal as much or cause this much scandal,' she told the Cadena Tres TV network.

TV producer Jesus Tapia said he had settled for Ms Orayen because she had 'a pleasant, young and fresh presence'.

Mr Tapia said the dress had been Ms Orayen's choice, and 'in the madness of the moment' had not been checked.

 

Mexico's Electoral Commission said the woman's revealing outfit had distracted attention from the debate, which focused on the economy and the drug-related violence in Mexico.


The commission said in a statement: 'We are sorry about the production error associated with the clothing of one of the assistants during the first presidential debate and want to apologise to the citizens and the candidates for the presidency.'

A second TV debate is set for June 10. It has not been determined if Ms Orayen will be scheduled to work during this screening.


VIDEO: Julia Orayen steals the show during Mexico's presidential TV debate