Miss Switzerland Zoé Metthez
Miss Norway Elise Dalby
Why are National Costumes such a big deal at Miss Universe? First and foremost, Miss Universe is a competition of nations and a National Costume is like a badge. It serves as a symbol and something that distinguishes one contestant from the others.
Miss Croatia Ivana Mišura
Miss USA Nia Sanchez
It all started in 1962 when Miss England Kim Carlton in her iconic Beefeater costume with a sexy twist won the Best in National Costume award. Since then, National Costumes have evolved in so many ways. Today we’ve seen costumes heralding peace treaties, famous buildings and even famous personas. In short, National Costumes are no longer “costumes” in a sense but rather symbolic forms of art that delve into the inner sanctum of cultural heritage from the windmills of the Netherlands to the mythical dragon of China.
Miss Indonesia Elvira Devinamira
Miss Guyana Niketa Barker
In overall, Colombia is the runaway queen of National Costumes posting six wins. Thailand is not far behind with 5 while Panama, Korea and Brazil each posting 4 wins. Last year’s winner is Miss Nicaragua Nastassja Bolívar who looked truly festive in her pre-Columbian costume.
Miss Ireland Lisa Madden
Year after year, these costumes would either awe the audience or raise the eyebrows of the critics so much so that one British newspaper labeled it as an annual Halloween costume parade. In 1992, Miss Paraguay Pamela Zarza upped the ante by wrapping herself in gargantuan feathery orange plumes to the point that neither Miss Peru nor Miss Miss Panama can pose alongside her. She won the award.
Miss Japan Keiko Tsuji
Miss Great Britain Grace Levy
Three winners of the National Costume Award went on to become Miss Universe. In 1998, Porntip Nakhirunkanok’s aubergine traditional Thai costume was a hit among the Taiwanese prevailing over Miss Japan’s kimono and Miss USA’s sexy cowgirl outfit. Ten years later, Wendy Fitzwilliam wowed the Hawaiians with her carnival costume. In 2003, Amelia Vega’s starfish and seahorse ensemble – a costume representing her country’s coral reefs – won the award. If anything, National Costumes are a way for candidates to get noticed. Just ask Kurara Chibana who used a sexy samurai costume that has been the talk of the misso town for days. Did the costume help her in grabbing the first runner-up title? You bet it did!
Miss Malaysia Sabrina Beneett
Thus, in an annual basis, fans are all gaga about the National Costumes. Not only it is about their country’s pride but also about having their candidate get noticed. Get one national costume right and your candidate will be the talk of the pageantry world for days. Some nations put a lot of effort in putting up a suitable National Costume and they have became expensive as well as expansive.
Miss Myanmar Sharr Htut Eaindra
This year, from the Tribute to Borobudur of Miss Indonesia to the Shadows of Siam of Miss Thailand to the Celtic warrior costume of Miss Ireland, the Miss Universe National Costume contest will be a feast of colors, of designs and of cultures. Missosology gathered some of the notable costumes that we are bound to see this month. If you want your candidate to be featured in this page, you may email us at ric@missosology.org
And now the big question is – which costume will eventually be hailed as the best?
Miss Sweden Camilla Hansson
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