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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
Asya Branch, Miss USA surprised everyone with a costume inspired by strength, liberation and the motivation to keep going.
Mariángel Villasmil, Miss Venezuela
Mariángel Villasmil, Miss Venezuela wore a costume inspired by the rays of Catatumbo, from her native state of Zulia, Venezuela.
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 México, Miss México
Andrea México, Miss México wore a costume simulating an alebrije, one of the most characteristic and colorful symbols of her country.
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
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.”
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Cecilia Rossell, Miss Honduras
Cecilia Rossell, Miss Honduras, wore a costume that represented part of her Mayan culture.
Julia Gama, Miss Brasil
Julia Gama, Miss Brasil looked like a true cotton queen, with a gown made with specks of the famous textile.
Ivonne Cerdas, Miss Costa Rica
Ivonne Cerdas, Miss Costa Rica wore a very nice gown with purple guarias, a national flower in her country.
Vanessa Velásquez, Miss El Salvador
Vanessa Velásquez, Miss El Salvador impressed us with her unique gown, designed by Francisco Guerrero.
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.
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.
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.
Miqueal-Symone, Miss Jamaica
Miqueal-Symone, Miss Jamaica wore a dress that highlighted one of the most characteristic flowers of her country.
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 Caimán
Danielle Alexis, Miss Islas Caimán wore an outfit inspired by the beautiful Cayman Islands sunsets.
Hillary Ann Williams, Miss Barbados
Hillary Ann Williams, Miss Barbados dazzled us with her grace on stage and her elaborate typical costume.
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.
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.
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
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
Rabiya Mateo, Miss Philippines wore the colors of her flag in a typical costume of her country.
Hari Park, Miss Corea
Hari Park, Miss Corea opted for a typical costume called Hanbok, a traditional Korean dress.
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.
Anshika Sharma, Miss Universe Nepal
Anshika Sharma, Miss Nepal wore the most recognized symbol of her country: Mount Everest with its prayer flags.