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Miss Universe: The national costumes that stole the show

Miss Universe: The national costumes that stole the show

A night of glamorous fashion to showcase the best and originality of each country


MAY 14, 2021 3:40 PM EDT

Yesterday, Thursday, May 13th, the 69th edition of Miss Universe held its national costumes competition. Walter Mercado, Diego Armando Maradona and even Mount Everest were the main protagonists of the catwalk this year.

While this competition is separate from the pageant overall scores, it is one of the most awaited and glamorous runaway events. Designers and contestants from 74 countries fiercely compete to honor the essence of their homeland and traditions on a global stage, with original and extravagant costumes.

This year, the designers of the gowns, created elaborate and glitzy costumes that took inspiration from national flowers, typical foods, monuments, national icons, flora and fauna and even natural landscapes, using their ingenuity to highlight the most unique and charming elements of each of their country.

Scroll through this photo gallery to see some of the most striking national costumes of this year’s Miss Universe.

Asya Branch, Miss USA© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Asya Branch, Miss USA

Asya Branch, Miss USA surprised everyone with a costume inspired by strength, liberation and the motivation to keep going.

Mariangel Villasmil, Miss Venezuela© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Mariángel Villasmil, Miss Venezuela

Mariángel Villasmil, Miss Venezuela wore a costume inspired by the rays of Catatumbo, from her native state of Zulia, Venezuela.

Estefania Soto Torres, Miss Puerto Rico© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Estefanía Soto Torres, Miss Puerto Rico

Estefanía Soto Torres, Miss Puerto Rico was the center of attention with her gown inspired by Walter Mercado, “The Astrologer of the Stars.”

Andrea Mexico, Miss Mexico© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Andrea México, Miss México

Andrea México, Miss México wore a costume simulating an alebrije, one of the most characteristic and colorful symbols of her country.

Miss Colombia© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Laura Olascuagua, Miss Colombia

Laura Olascuagua, Miss Colombia wore a bright orange costume inspired by a deity of the Colombian Guajira, the Goddess of Makuira, who represents the protective force and power of the indigenous Wayuu woman.

Lola de los Santos, Miss Uruguay© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Lola de los Santos, Miss Uruguay

Lola de los Santos, Miss Uruguay, carried a message of love with a gown that included the following message: “No more violence, no more discrimination, no more rejection, no more hatred.”

Miss Argentina© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Alina Luz Akselrad, Miss Argentina

Alina Luz Akselrad, Miss Argentina surprised us with a costume in tribute to Diego Armando Maradona, who died on November 25, 2020 and was a national icon in her country.

Miss Peru© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Janick Maceta del Castillo, Miss Perú

Janick Maceta del Castillo, Miss Perú honored her country with a costume that represented the bicentennial of its history.

Miss Paraguay© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Vanessa Castro Guillén, Miss Paraguay

Vanessa Castro Guillén, Miss Paraguay wore a costume made of more than 10 kilos (more than 22 pounds) of wrought iron, representing the jasmine of Paraguay.

Carmen Jaramillo, Miss Panama© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Carmen Jaramillo, Miss Panamá

Carmen Jaramillo, Miss Panamá wore a gown that featured a historical representation of La Niña, La Pinta, and Santa María, the boats in which Christopher Columbus arrived in America in 1492.

Miss Republica Dominicana© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Kimberly Jiménez, Miss República Dominicana

Kimberly Jiménez, Miss República Dominicana stole all eyes wearing a gown with one of the main flowers of her country, the Sunflower.

Miss Honduras Cecilia Rossell© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Cecilia Rossell, Miss Honduras

Cecilia Rossell, Miss Honduras, wore a costume that represented part of her Mayan culture.

Miss Brasil© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Julia Gama, Miss Brasil

Julia Gama, Miss Brasil looked like a true cotton queen, with a gown made with specks of the famous textile.

Miss Costa Rica© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Ivonne Cerdas, Miss Costa Rica

Ivonne Cerdas, Miss Costa Rica wore a very nice gown with purple guarias, a national flower in her country.

Miss El Salvador© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Vanessa Velásquez, Miss El Salvador

Vanessa Velásquez, Miss El Salvador impressed us with her unique gown, designed by Francisco Guerrero.

Miss Bolivia© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Lenka Nemer, Miss Bolivia

Lenka Nemer, Miss Bolivia filled the stage with color with her typical costume. She even did a dance from her country, the waka waka.

Miss Chile© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Daniela Nicolás, Miss Chile

Daniela Nicolás, Miss Chile wore a costume inspired by a mythology legend of her country, La Pincoya, an imaginary marine creature belonging to the mythology of Chiloé, in southern Chile.

Miss Canada© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Nova Stevens, Miss Canadá

Nova Stevens, Miss Canadá wore a gown based on a fictional action character who stands up for human rights and racial causes. The costume had of course, Canadian elements like the maple leaf and the colors of the flag.

Miss Jamaica© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Miqueal-Symone, Miss Jamaica

Miqueal-Symone, Miss Jamaica wore a dress that highlighted one of the most characteristic flowers of her country.

Miss Haiti© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Eren Berandoive, Miss Haití

Eren Berandoive, Miss Haití wore a mini-city integrated into her costume as a tribute to ‘la ciudadela de Laferrera’.

Miss Islas Caiman© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Miss Islas Caimán

Danielle Alexis, Miss Islas Caimán wore an outfit inspired by the beautiful Cayman Islands sunsets.

Miss Barbados© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Hillary Ann Williams, Miss Barbados

Hillary Ann Williams, Miss Barbados dazzled us with her grace on stage and her elaborate typical costume.

Miss Bahamas© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Shaunte-Ashleigh Miller, Miss Bahamas

Shaunte-Ashleigh Miller, Miss Bahamas took a plane, yes ... just like you read on the stage of the Guitar Hotel. This beauty represented her country, as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the American continent.

Miss Islas Britanicas© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Shabree Frett, Miss Islas Vírgenes Británicas

Shabree Frett, Miss Islas Vírgenes Británicas wore a gown with one of the most symbolic animals of her country, the pink flamingo.

Miss Camboya© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Sarita Reth, Miss Camboya

Sarita Reth, Miss Camboya captivated us with her accessories and the symbolic costume of the Asian country that she represented.

Amanda Obdam, Miss Tailandia© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Amanda Obdam, Miss Tailandia

Amanda Obdam, Miss Tailandia enchanted all of us with an spectacular typical costume that had a fish and the colors of their flag.

Rabiya Mateo, Miss Filipinas© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Rabiya Mateo, Miss Filipinas

Rabiya Mateo, Miss Philippines wore the colors of her flag in a typical costume of her country.

Miss Corea Hari Park© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Hari Park, Miss Corea

Hari Park, Miss Corea opted for a typical costume called Hanbok, a traditional Korean dress.

MIss Camerun© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Angele Kossinda, Miss Camerún

Angele Kossinda, Miss Camerún, wore a costume inspired by the beauty of her country’s spectacular fauna, in which lions abound.

Miss Nepal© BENJAMIN ASKINAS

Anshika Sharma, Miss Universe Nepal

Anshika Sharma, Miss Nepal wore the most recognized symbol of her country: Mount Everest with its prayer flags.