The 62 wildest national costumes from the 71st annual Miss Universe pageant

Samantha Grindell,Anneta Konstantinides,Amanda KrauseJan 13, 2023, 06:27 IST

Miss Universe contestants competed in the National Costume Contest on Wednesday.Benjamin Askinas

The annual Miss Universe National Costume Contest took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Wednesday.
Contestants wore eye-catching outfits that celebrated their cultures.

Miss Argentina Barbara Cabrera brought the drama with a sky-high headdress inspired by Iguazú Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

Miss Argentina in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Armenia Kristina Ayanian used her national costume to make a powerful political statement.

Miss Armenia in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Aruba Kiara Arends' colorful outfit was inspired by her country's return to Carnival.

Miss Aruba in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Bahamas Angel Cartwright looked like fireworks in the sky with her national costume.

Miss Bahamas in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Bahrain Evlin Khalifa's national costume dripped in gold from head to toe.

Miss Bahrain in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Belize Ashley Lightburn brought the rainforest to Miss Universe with her costume.

Miss Belize in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Bolivia Maria Camila Sanabria Pereyra sparkled in a national costume that was covered in silver and gold.

Miss Bolivia in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Brazil Mia Mamede wore a shimmering fringe pantsuit inspired by Brazil's ocean.

Miss Brazil in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss British Virgin Islands Lia Claxton's costume, which paid tribute to the national flower, looked fresh as spring.

Miss British Virgin Islands in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Cambodia Manita Hang's national costume was inspired by a goddess who educates people to love humans, animals, and nature.

Miss Cambodia in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Cameroon Mouketey Lynette Monalisa Jelly's national costume was packed with special details that paid tribute to her country.

Miss Cameroon in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Cayman Islands Chloe Powery-Doxey's costume was inspired by the blue iguana, which is indigenous to her country.

Miss Cayman Islands in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Chile Sofía Depassier looked as bright as the sun with her national costume.

Miss Chile in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Colombia María Fernanda Aristizabál wowed the crowd with her Phoenix Queen costume, which included a pair of spectacular wings.

Miss Colombia in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Costa Rica Maria Fernanda Rodriguez Ávila's sparkling blue costume symbolized hummingbirds.

Miss Costa Rica in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Curaçao Gabriëla Dos Santos celebrated the wives of fishermen with this sparkling blue costume.

Miss Curaçao in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Ecuador Nayelhi González's glittering gold costume paid tribute to the Inca Sun god.

Miss Ecuador in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss El Salvador Alejandra Guajardo's gold outfit embodied the history of her country's currency.

Miss El Salvador in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Equatorial Guinea Alba Isabel Obama Moliko dressed in the garb of a tribal leader for the contest.

Miss Equatorial Guinea in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss France Floriane Bascou honored the holiday Bastille Day with her colorful costume.

Miss France in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Germany Soraya Kohlmann nodded to the work of the late designer Karl Lagerfeld with her all-black look.

Miss Germany in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Ghana Engracia Afua K. Mofuman combined the look of royalty and that of a warrior with her one-of-a-kind dress.

Miss Ghana in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Great Britain Noky Simbani honored the late Queen Elizabeth with her platinum ball gown.

Miss Great Britain in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Greece Korina Emmanouilidou dressed as the goddess Hera, with her bodice glowing to depict Hera's otherworldliness.

Miss Greece in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Guatemala Ivana Batchelor included a re-creation of the pyramid Tikal, also called the Temple of the Jaguar.

Miss Guatemala in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Haiti Mideline Phelizor put her home country's natural beauty on display with her costume.

Miss Haiti in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Iceland Hrafnhildur Haraldsdóttir's ball gown was embroidered with the phrase "Your future, your choice," making a statement about climate change.

Miss Iceland in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss India Divita Rai paid tribute to ancient times when her country was known as the "golden bird."

Miss India in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

The backpiece of Miss Indonesia Laksmi De Neefe Suardana's costume was designed to look like a ship.

Miss Indonesia in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Italy Virginia Stablum wore a costume for the Carnival of Venice during the competition.

Miss Italy in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Jamaica Toshami Calvin paid tribute to a Jamaican hero with her look.

Miss Jamaica in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Kyrgyzstan Altynai Botoyarova channeled a swan with her white gown that had a feathered skirt and coordinating sleeves.

Miss Kyrgyzstan in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Laos Payengxa Lor's ensemble popped with pink tassels, a pink headdress, and a bamboo backpiece.

Miss Laos in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Lebanon Yasmina Zaytoun's shiny outfit evoked strength.

Miss Lebanon in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Malaysia Cheam Wei Yeng evoked the look of Mount Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in her home country.

Miss Malaysia in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Malta Maxine Formosa Gruppetta's backpiece was made to look like a lira, which was her country's currency before the euro.

Miss Malta in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Mauritius Alexandrine Belle-Etoile embraced her country's national flower, the Trochetia Boutoniana, and its French colonial roots with her all-red costume.

Miss Mauritius in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Mexico Irma Cristina Miranda Valenzuela put a sparkly spin on a traditional dress.

Miss Mexico in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Namibia Cassia Sharpley dressed as her country's national bird, the African Fish Eagle, for the costume contest.

Miss Namibia in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Nepal Sophiya Bhujel embodied the divine feminine principle known as Shakti, according to Miss Universe.

Miss Nepal in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Netherlands Ona Moody turned herself into a stroopwafel.

Miss Netherlands in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Nicaragua arrived in a crystal-covered pantsuit and floral headdress.

Miss Nicaragua in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Nigeria donned a bird-inspired headpiece and a masquerade-themed outfit.

Miss Nigeria in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Panama had one of the most colorful looks seen on the Miss Universe stage.

Miss Panama in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Paraguay, on the other hand, wore one of the most daring looks of the night.

Miss Paraguay in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Peru's red ensemble was inspired by sunrises over the Amazon.

Miss Peru in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Philippines Celeste Cortesi wore an outfit that made her look like a superhero.

Miss Philippines in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Poland took inspiration from her country's national colors.

Miss Poland in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Puerto Rico Ashley Cariño wore a futuristic two-piece inspired by a telescope.

Miss Puerto Rico in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Russia Anna Linnikova channeled royal members of her country's history with a minidress covered in precious stones and pearls.

Miss Russia in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Seychelles Gabriella Gonthier transformed herself into a payanke, a species of tropical bird.

Miss Seychelles in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Singapore Carissa Yap wore a 3D-printed jumpsuit and matching hat.

Miss Singapore in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss South Africa Ndavi Nokeri wore a colorful dress with a floral print and two cutouts of Africa on her back.

Miss South Africa in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Switzerland Alia Guindi's train was decorated with embellishments designed to look like chocolate.

Miss Switzerland in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Thailand Anna Sueangam-iam paid homage to the goddesses of her country with her sheer dress.

Miss Thailand in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Trinidad and Tobago Tya Jané Ramey's look nodded to the rich history of Carnival in her country.

Miss Trinidad and Tobago in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Turkey Aleyna Şirin's red-and-black costume was made entirely of recycled materials.

Miss Turkey in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Ukraine Viktoriia Apanasenko told Insider her "Warrior of Light" costume was inspired by the Archangel Michael, who conquers evil.

Miss Ukraine in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Uruguay Carla Romero's sparkly two-piece was inspired by Candombe, an Uruguayan style of music and dance.

Miss Uruguay in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel nodded to the 1969 moon landing with her star-studded ensemble.

Miss United States in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Venezuela Amanda Dudamel took inspiration from her country's athletic teams, elevating them with her bodysuit.

Miss Venezuela in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

Miss Vietnam Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Châu's entire dress and intricate backpiece were made with environmentally-friendly fabric.

Miss Vietnam in the 2023 Miss Universe Costume Contest.Benjamin Askinas

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