30 Pics Of The Miss Universe Contestants Wearing “National Costumes”

This Warrior Of Light costume symbolizes Ukraine’s fight for freedom. The Warrior Of Light protects her country like archangel Michael who is guardian of soldiers and considered to be the patron of Kyiv, the capital city.

Meet Green Nanny. She expertly commanded her people in the fight against oppression and for freedom against slave masters. As Jamaica celebrates 60 years of independence, we celebrate this female icon.

Maria is a hummingbird meant to remind us of perseverance, stamina, strength and tenacity. This costume features a recycled corset and wings as a way to protest against disposable fashion.

This hanbok shows the beautiful Korean sunset and features elegant lines throughout. Magnificent colors flow through the 27 different layers of the skirt. The outfit has been naturally dyed with flowers and plants.

This woman of wonder costume is an elegant hybrid of royalty and courage. It features golden armor, a ball gown and a trident, depicting the bravery displayed by Ghana’s first and only known female war leader.

This costume depicts the goddess Hera. You’ll notice that Greek mythology’s protector of the family has some peacocks by her side. The eyes aim to turn the all the world’s gaze on this costume.

This look was inspired by a Dutch sweet called stroopwafel. This cookie with caramel is very popular in the Netherlands. The hat is a cup of tea that helps the stroopwafel melt, making it even more delicious.

Feel the strength of the Phoenix Queen representing a country of beautiful landscapes and breathtaking sunsets. She emerged from the ashes and was adorned in 1,100 Swarovski crystals.

This contemporary design combines those of the prehistoric and Funan eras. This look represents a goddess who educates people to love humans, animals and nature.

Serenada Mexicana is inspired by the charro suit, a style of dress originated in Mexico. The costume is a mermaid cut. A wide-brimmed hat and a jacket complete the look.

This national costume is an ode to blueprinting, the practice of dyeing fabrics with indigo. Blueprinting is an important Slovakian technique as well as a European tradition of textile decoration.

This costume was inspired by the image of a long-standing handicraft village located in the south of Vietnam. Associated with patriotic traditions and full of vitality, it is made entirely from a natural and environmentally friendly material.

The White Cedar is the national flower of the British Virgin Islands. They are often pink and can be found in clusters throughout the spring and summer. The costume has 5 petals highlighted by the yellow splash in the center.

In 2022 Great Britain lost its much revered head of state, Queen Elizabeth. Her Platinum reign from 1952 to 2022 inspired this national costume. It pays tribute to the incredible mother, wife and role model.

This bold look pays homage to the Paraguay flag, the only one in the world that has two national coats of arms. The star in front represents hope and the lion in the back symbolizes bravery.

The Goosey Falls are one of the 7 Natural Wonders Of The World. Completely handmade, this creation combines embroidery with crystal rhinestones, beads and fringe in back. The waterfall is represented by synthetic bows.

This costume represents the first and only Jaguar Reserve in the world located in the luscious rainforest of Brazil. It’s a reminder of the beautiful natural resources found in the Central American nations.

This costume takes inspiration from shakti, the dynamic feminine principle that is often personified as a goddess. It reminds us of our own strength and reiterates the fact that each woman is a boundless source of energy.

This mermaid set is made out of recycled materials used in the Grand Carnival Parade. It celebrates the great work Aruba does with its Ocean Action Plan and the country’s return to celebrating Carnival post Covid.

This costume was inspired by the carnival of Venice. Since ancient times carnival allows anyone to be who they want to be without being judged. The dress is made of red silk adorned with gold and sequins applied by hand.

This costume brings attention to Armenia’s genocide history, something this delegate’s refugee family is all too familiar with. The design shows the resilience and strength of her people and the white carpet throughout is a call for a peaceful future.

This costume represents different ethnic groups in Laos. The unity of Lao people was conveyed through incorporating decorations featuring tribal fabrics and silk patterns. At the center of it all is the Lao flag.

This look represents Igbo masquerade and embodies the mannerism and significance of Igbo Bird. This African eagle is highly respected for its pride, grace and an aura of confidence as she lays her precious eggs.

This look is called Origami Senbazuru or 1,000 paper cranes. It’s a symbol of peace and hundreds of cranes were made sustainably for this dress. The stick is also decorated with cranes and the message is clear: no more war.

Ancient Romans referred to India as the Golden Bird, symbolizing the country’s vast wealth. This mythical being was the inspiration for Divita’s national costume. Of course, India’s true wealth lies in its deep spirituality and essence of unity and diversity.

This look represents flamenco, the national dance of Spain. The costume was inspired by the colors of the Spanish flag and is in an ode to the passion and culture of her country’s people.

The Bulgarian folk costume varies based on the season and region. Kristina is dressed in a modernized white northern costume made of neoprene and carries with her a basket of red roses.

This costume is called The Red Kerchief. In Kosovan culture, when a woman gets married, a sad house is left behind. No food is prepared for 3 days, sad songs play and a red handkerchief is placed on the daughter’s face.

This national costume is an ode to Guatemala. As a foundation it features the pyramid El Gran Jaguar and the Mayan calendar. You’ll also notice a jade necklace and the face of a jaguar, the universal symbol of Mayan culture.

The history of her homeland’s carnival is both jarring and inspiring. It was born out of necessity, mockery, pride and revolution. To celebrate all the carnival stands for, behold this educated jester wearing an embellished golden gown of layered strips of fog.

This look was inspired by Polish national colors: the white meaning loyalty and honor is intertwined with red poppies. Red stands for love, sacrifice and courage. Poppy flower symbolizes Poland’s struggle for independence.

Its inhabitants continue to witness the devastating effects of climate change and global warming. The costume reminds us that as a world we need to act now for a better future.

Inspired by her national bird palmchat, this costume recognizes the great importance of birds in  Dominican culture. The costume was made with more than 4,000 silk feathers and biodegradable materials.

This detailed piece of art turned costume features colors of the Nicaraguan flag. It’s a personification of a woman exalting the national flower as a symbol of patriotism and the struggle that reflects female empowerment.

This costume called Bridge Of The World Heart Of The Universe highlights Panamanian culture. Body painting is a tradition of indigenous people and the heart on the back symbolizes love for all people who visit the country.

It is a kingdom steeped in history with a gaze fixed on the future. This is Bhutan's moment of evolution. The country sees a bright future and believes in its ability to shine as a beacon of possibility in the world.

Norway is known for its natural beauty. This outfit made from repurposed wedding dresses symbolizes the Norwegian fjords in winter from outer space under the Northern lights. The inspiration came from a photo released by NASA.

This costume is called Spirit Of The Forest and reflects the diversity of Finnish nature. Trees provide this delegate’s country with safety, nutrition and energy so her message is clear: stop deforestation.

This outfit was produced using recycled materials. The skirt and tail were made of garbage bags. The body and embroidery design come from recycled fabrics. The artist used the needle lace technique, a craft unique to Turkiye.

Inspired by her country in Central Africa, this costume’s baskets represent the nation’s agricultural movement. The necklace features Mount Cameroon, a volcano known as the mountain of the gods. The crown features her country map and flag colors.

This costume brought inspiration from the burgundy uniform used by athletes to represent Venezuela in international tournaments. The color is a message that Venezuelan blood runs through their veins.

This costume represents the golden celebration of the establishment of Bahrain as a nation. The smallest in the Middle East is among the richest countries in the world with the second-highest millionaire density on Earth.

Czech painter Alphonse Mucha was known for a distinctive work of art featuring women with flowers and ornaments. Sara has been transformed into a goddess based on the work of master of art Nobu.

We are witnessing a modern-day queen of La Marguerite Flower Festival. This costume made of sparkly sheer fabric has beadwork throughout, a modern corset and a bag decorated with flowers completes the look.

Behold this costume inspired by the blue iguana. From the doorstep of extinction to resurgence, the majestic blue iguana is indigenous to the Cayman Islands and represents the resilience of the island people.

This look is a tribute to Bastille Day. July 14th commemorates the storming of the Bastille, marking the end of the monarchy. Feathers from head to toe represent the country’s national flag–the rooster.

The African Fish Eagle represents strength, dignity and authority. It is Namibia's national bird and can be found in the country’s coat of arms. The color used in this costume symbolizes resources distributed in Namibia such as copper and gold.

Towery shells were once used in Angola as both currency and has important symbol of wealth. This delegate’s original costume was a tree but it was too big to ship to New Orleans so she went with this one instead.

This goddess of the ocean is half-fish and half-woman. The pearl on her head is a symbol of the wealth and diversity of Brazil's marine ecosystem. From head to toe this costume is an ode to Brazilian folklore and fame.

This costume was inspired by the Indonesian motto “at sea we are victorious.” All Indonesians are said to be the world’s first sailors, so this look symbolizes navigating a strong, steady course through today’s turbulent world.

Just like New Orleans, Mauritius was once a French colony. This national costume brings that French heritage back but with a modern twist: sophisticated crystals and the tropical flare of Mauritius’ national flower.

In 1973, the island of Bahamas gained independence. On that night the flag was raised into the Bahamian sky and their historic Clifford Park was surrounded by fireworks. Tonight, this delegate celebrates 50 years of independence.

This ruby red costume pays tribute to the Canadian art scene. Institutions like the National Ballet of Canada shine nearly as bright as Amelia, the delegate joining the ensemble.

Witness this imposing leader, a valuable presence in her community. This costume was made from a coco sack, a significant part of her people’s past identity. The tribal boss symbolizes the multiple faces of what it means to be a woman in command.

This look was inspired by Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Observatory radio telescope. They used to study Earth and it was the world's largest single-aperture telescope until 2016. The costume celebrates the scientific community.

In the mountains of Bolivia's city Potosí lies the world’s largest silver deposit that has been mined since the 16th century. Maria’s costume features silver plating and coins paying homage to this region.

This look was inspired by Chile's Atacama Desert. Once a year, the driest desert in the world is filled with flowers, a rare phenomenon that attracts thousands of tourists. The costume includes multiple flowers and the headpiece represents the rising sun.

This costume was inspired by Haiti’s biodiversity, a representation of the country’s natural vibrancy and beauty. Their national tree, the Royal Palm is a symbol of Haiti’s political independence.

This look was inspired by one of the 7 goddess’ daughters who was part of a festival celebrating Thailand’s New Year. The dress is a hand-woven fabric complemented by the silver bowl used to splash water during the festival.

This dress highlights Inti Raymi, a religious ceremony celebrating the first day of the new year in the Inca Calendar and the Incan Sun King. The transparent dress features feathers and rhinestones.

Behold the celebration of Ndavi’s strong South African heritage. The costume was made using vibrant colors reflective of a nation's rainbow. The wings showcase light and represent the ascension of African women in the world.