The wildest outfits in the history of Miss Universe's National Costume Show

Gabbi ShawMay 18, 2021, 00:48 IST

Miss Nepal at the Miss Universe 2020 National Costume Show.Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

We're taking a look back at the best costumes from the National Costume Show, including this year's.
The National Costume Show doesn't count towards contestants' overall scores - it's a chance for them to honor their homes.
In the last decade, the costumes have become more elaborate and ornate.

Miss Bahamas 2020, Shauntae Miller, wore a bedazzled airplane captain's uniform with an entire plane behind her.

Shauntae Miller. Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

Miss Cameroon 2020, Kossinda Angele, looked like she was straight out of "The Lion King" on Broadway.

Kossinda Angele. Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

Miss Cayman Islands 2020, Mariah Tibbett, wore a circular ombré headpiece that looked like a sunset.

Mariah Tibbetts. Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

Amanda Petri, Miss Denmark 2020, certainly stood out in this giant, feathery, neon pink ensemble.

Amanda Petri. Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

Miss Colombia 2020, Laura Olascuaga, wore an elaborate orange costume that was inspired by indigenous Wayuu women.

Laura Olascuaga. Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

Miss El Salvador 2020, Vanessa Velásquez, was a living, breathing flower bush.

Vanessa Velásquez. Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

Eden Berandoive, Miss Haiti 2020, carried an entire fortress.

Eden Berandoive. Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

Miss Jamaica 2020 Miqueal-Symone Williams' giant flowers were nods to her country's national flower, the Lignum vitae.

Miqueal-Symone Williams. Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

Miss Malaysia 2020, Francisca Luhong James, carried a full house.

Francisca Luhong James. Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

Miss Mexico 2020, Andrea Meza - who went on to win the entire competition - was a fierce dragon.

Andrea Meza. Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

Anshika Sharma, Miss Nepal 2020, walked the runway with a cutout of Mount Everest and traditional Nepalese prayer flags.

Anshika Sharma. Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

Miss Panama 2020, Carmen Jaramillo, channeled a shipwreck, with netting, seashells, and an anchor.

Carmen Jaramillo. Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

Estefanía Natalia Soto Torres, Miss Puerto Rico 2020, had the entire zodiac on her back.

Estefanía Natalia Soto Torres. Benjamin Askinas/Miss Universe

Miss USA 2019, Cheslie Kryst, channeled two American icons: the Statue of Liberty and Sandra Bullock in "Miss Congeniality."

Miss USA Cheslie Kryst during the National Costume Contest. Miss Universe

Miss El Salvador 2019, Zuleika Soler, walked the runway in a skirt depicting an El Salvadoran town.

Miss El Salvador at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant. Patrick Prather/Miss Universe

Miss Vietnam, Hoàng Thùy, paid homage to Vietnamese iced coffee with her costume.

Miss Vietnam at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant. Patrick Prather/Miss UniversePatrick Prather/Miss Universe

In honor of Canada's nationwide legalization of marijuana, Miss Canada 2019, Alyssa Boston, wore a giant weed leaf.

Miss Canada at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant. Patrick Prather/Miss Universe

Miss Laos 2019, Vichitta Phonevilay, had perhaps the most elaborate costume of the night.

Miss Laos at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant. Patrick Prather/Miss Universe

Miss Brazil 2019, Julia Horta, donned a glammed-out soccer uniform and golden wings.

Miss Brazil at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant. Patrick Prather/Miss Universe

Miss British Virgin Islands 2019 Bria Smith's dress was an upside-down tree.

Miss British Virgin Islands at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant. Alex Mertz/Miss Universe

Miss Chile 2019, Geraldine González, had an unusual accessory: a giant cherry.

Miss Chile at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant. Patrick Prather/Miss Universe

Miss Cambodia 2019, Somnang Alyna, said her costume was inspired by Princess Indra Devi, who lived in the 12th century.

Miss Cambodia at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant. Patrick Prather/Miss Universe

Miss India 2019 Vartika Singh's costume is extremely elaborate.

Miss India at the 2019 Miss Universe pageant. Patrick Prather/Miss Universe

Miss Malaysia 2019, Shweta Sekhon, balanced a full dinner table as part of her costume.

Miss Malaysia wore a floral costume during the 2019 Miss Universe pageant. Patrick Prather/Miss Universe

Miss Universe Thailand 2018, Sophida Kanchanarin, paid homage to her country's national animal, the elephant.

Miss Thailand Sophida Kanchanarin displays her costume during Miss Universe National Costume Show in Chon Buri, Thailand Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP Images

Miss Universe India 2018, Nehal Chudasama, carried around a portable throne on her back.

Miss India Nehal Chudasama displays her costume during Miss Universe National Costume Show in Chon Buri, Thailand Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP Images

Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2018 Kiara Ortega's costume featured three pairs of hands and a star headpiece.

Miss Puerto Rico Kiara Ortega displays her costume during Miss Universe National Costume Show in Chon Buri, Thailand Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP Images

Miss Universe Singapore 2018 Zahra Khanum's costume referenced the summit in Singapore between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and American president Donald Trump.

Miss Singapore Zahra Khanum displays her costume during Miss Universe National Costume Show in Chon Buri, Thailand Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP Images

Miss Universe Laos 2018, On-anong Homsombath, carried two additional figures with her.

Miss Universe Laos 2018 On-anong Homsombath. Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP Images

Miss USA 2013 Erin Brady's Transformers-inspired costume made a statement.

Miss USA Erin Brady presents her outfit, during the national costume show at the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013. Beauties will compete for the title of Miss Universe in Moscow on Nov. 9. Pavel Golovkin/AP Images

Miss Brazil 2013, Jakelyne Oliveira, wore a cape that depicted indigenous peoples of Brazil.

Miss Brazil 2013 Jakelyne Oliveira. Pavel Golovkin/AP Images

Miss Thailand 2015, Aniporn Chalermburanawong, rocked a dress inspired by a tuk tuk.

Miss Thailand 2015 Aniporn Chalermburanawong. Sakchai Lalit/AP Images

Htet Htet Htun, Miss Myanmar 2016, wore a costume depicting traditional Burmese puppetry.

Miss Myanmar 2016 Htet Htet Htun. Erik De Castro/Reuters

Miss Canada 2014, Chanel Beckenlehner, wore a hockey-inspired ensemble, complete with a scoreboard.

Miss Canada, Chanel Beckenlehner, poses for the judges wearing a hockey-themed costume during the national costume show at the 63rd annual Miss Universe Competition in Miami, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015. J Pat Carter/AP Images

Miss Panama 2016 Keity Drennan's costume looked like a piece of art.

Miss Panama Keity Drennan 2016. Erik De Castro/Reuters

Miss Guyana 2016, Soyini Fraser, paid homage to her tropical country by wearing a palm tree-inspired headdress.

Miss Guyana 2016 Soyini Fraser. Erik De Castro/Reuters

Miss USA 2014, Nia Sanchez, wasn't shy about her love for red, white, and blue.

Miss USA 2014 Nia Sanchez. J Pat Carter/AP Images

Miss Dominican Republic 2007, Massiel Taveras, shouldered two massive dolphins and a coral headpiece.

Miss Dominican Republic 2007 Massiel Taveras. Daniel Aguilar/Reuters

Miss Sweden 2016, Ida Ovmar, paid homage to Swedish author Astrid Lindgren's creation Pippi Longstocking, complete with her own horse.

Miss Sweden 2016 Ida Ovmar. Erik De Castro/Reuters

Miss Vietnam 2016 Dang Thi Le Hang's costume resembled a lotus flower.

Miss Vietnam 2016 Dang Thi Le Hang. Erik De Castro/Reuters

Miss Finland 2005, Hanna Poulsen (then Ek), channeled Elsa from "Frozen" eight years before it was released.

Miss Finland 2005 Hanna Poulsen. Chaiwat Subprasom/Reuters

Zahra Redwood, Miss Jamaica Universe 2007, rocked Rasta-colored hair wraps and a Bob Marley shirt.

Miss Jamaica Universe 2007 Zahra Redwood. Daniel Aguilar/Reuters

Miss China 2006, Ying Hui Gao, turned heads with this ornate costume.

Miss China 2006 Ying Hui Gao. Sam Mircovich/Reuters

Avanti Marianne Page, Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2014, wore a vibrantly colored costume.

Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2014 Avanti Marianne Page. J Pat Carter/AP Images

Miss Universe Greece 2007, Doukissa Nomikou, donned an outfit inspired by ancient Grecian armor.

Miss Greece Doukissa Nomikou introduces herself, in her national costume, during a Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City May 20, 2007. Daniel Aguilar/Reuters

Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2006, Kenisha Thom, turned into a butterfly.

Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2006 Kenisha Thom. Sam Mircovich/Reuters

Miss St. Lucia Universe 2014 Roxanne Didier-Nicholas's costume was a modernized take on St. Lucia's national dress.

Miss St. Lucia Universe 2014 Roxanne Didier-Nicholas. J Pat Carter/AP Images

Miss Universe Great Britain 2014, Grace Levy, wore a version of the Queen's Guard uniform.

Miss Universe Great Britain 2014 Grace Levy. J Pat Carter/AP Images

Miss Finland 2014 Bea Toivonen's costume was winter white, just like Finland's snow-covered land.

Miss Finland 2014 Bea Toivonen. J Pat Carter/AP Images

Miss Universe Sierra Leone 2016, Hawa Kamara, was the first woman to represent her country at Miss Universe.

Miss Universe candidate from Sierra Leone Hawa Kamara competes during a national costume preliminary competition in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines January 26, 2017. Erik De Castro/Reuters

Miss Dominican Republic 2014, Kimberly Castillo, had the patron saint of the Dominican Republic on her dress.

Miss Dominican Republic 2014 Kimberly Castillo. J Pat Carter/AP Images

Marina Jacoby, Miss Nicaragua 2016, channeled a peacock.

Miss Nicaragua 2016 Marina Jacoby. Erik De Castro/Reuters

Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2016, Brenda Jimenez, got to wear a crown no matter what.

Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2016 Brenda Jimenez. Erik De Castro/Reuters

Johanna Acs, Miss Universe Germany 2016, donned a castle headdress.

Miss Universe Germany 2016 Johanna Acs. Erik De Castro/Reuters

Miss Egypt 2007, Ehsan Hatem, channeled Cleopatra.

Miss Egypt Ehsan Hatem introduces herself in her national costume during the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City May 20, 2007. Daniel Aguilar/Reuters

Miss Chile Universe 2005, Renata Ruiz, wore a vibrant headpiece, complete with an Easter Island statue on top.

Miss Universe 2005 contestant Renata Ruiz of Chile models her outfit during the National Costume Show in Bangkok. Miss Universe 2005 contestant Renata Ruiz of Chile models her outfit during the National Costume show in Bangkok May 25, 2005. Chaiwat Subprasom/Reuters

Miss Universe Japan 2006, Kurara Chibana, won the national costume show for her samurai-inspired garb.

Miss Universe Japan 2006 Kurara Chibana. Sam Mircovich/Reuters

Miss Honduras 2013 Diana Schoutsen's costume combined peacocks and traditional Mayan clothing.

Miss Honduras 2013 Diana Schoutsen. Pavel Golovkin/AP Images

Miss Haiti Universe 2013 Mondiana Pierre's costume looked like it was inspired by the indigenous tribes of Haiti.

Miss Haiti Universe 2013 Mondiana Pierre. Pavel Golovkin/AP Images

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