Miss Universe 2024: See all the best national costumes

On By Littum



CNN
—

Is it a bird? Is it a winged goddess? Is it an ode to the history of traditional Dutch ceramics?

At Miss Universe 2024, it was all of these things — and more — as the annual pageant kicked off its flamboyant national costume competition on Thursday night.

Tasked with modeling looks representing their home countries, 126 contestants took the stage at Arena CDMX in Mexico City ahead of Saturday’s grand finale. And while many looked to folk art, deities or their nations’ flags for inspiration, others took more outlandish approaches.

Miss Nicaragua, Geyssell García, came dressed as her country’s famous León Cathedral. Kenyan beauty queen Irene Mukii’s costume, meanwhile, featured the faces of several notable athletes, a nod to her country’s long-distance running prowess. And Miss Chile, Emilia Dides, stepped out wearing a huge roulette wheel as a tribute to the popular Chilean TV variety show “Sábado Gigante”.

Elsewhere, contestants addressed the national flora and fauna, from Miss Bangladesh Aniqa Alam’s tiger-themed costume to the red-eyed elephant protruding from Miss Ivory Coast Marie-Emmanuelle Diamala’s outfit. Miss Myanmar, Thet San Andersen, slipped out of a golden owl costume to reveal a pair of sparkling wings, while Britain’s Christina Chalk arrived on stage in a foliage-covered outfit inspired by 121 million oak trees found in Great Britain.

The costume segment, as part of the glittering competition’s preliminary round, was immediately followed by a swimsuit competition. The winners of both will be announced on Saturday before the finalists are narrowed down to a shortlist of 30 who will then compete to inherit the Miss Universe crown from reigning titleholder Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua.

Scroll down to see some of the most eye-catching national costumes.

This year's Miss Netherlands, Faith Landman, looked at the ceramic traditions of the city of Delft.
Toucan play this game: Miss Argentina, Magalí Benejam, wore a jungle-themed outfit with a blue-and-white top representing waterfalls.
The parrot fish
Miss Costa Rica, Elena Hidalgo, wore an outfit inspired by the images found on her country's currency, the colón.
Miss Aruba, Anouk Eman, came dressed as an endangered Aruban Burrowing Owl.
A butterfly themed look from Miss Vietnam, Ky Duyen Nguyen.
The UK is home to 121 million oak trees - and Miss Great Britain, Christina Chalk, paid tribute to them.
Miss Chile, Emilia Dides, stepped out wearing a huge roulette wheel - a nod to the popular Chilean TV variety
Miss Bolivia, Juliana Barrientos, took the stage in a shaman-inspired look - complete with a stuffed toy owl.
Miss Kenya, Irene Mukii, highlighted the faces of several notable athletes, a nod to her country's prowess in long-distance running.
Ashley Callingbull, the first person of First Nations heritage to represent Canada at Miss Universe, wore a tiered gown equipped with twinkling lights.
Miss Italy, Glenany Cavalcante, paid tribute to 1960s Italian films.
Miss Jamaica, Rachel Silvera, paid tribute to dancehall music's female pioneers.
Miss Cambodia, Davin Prasath, was one of several contestants who came dressed as a deity.
Miss Malta, Beatrice Njoya, became the first ever Miss Universe contestant to reach the final in their 40s after the pageant lifted a long-standing age limit of 28.
Miss Ecuador, Tema Mara, took to the stage dressed as the historic center of the capital Quito, with the churches of San Francisco and Santo Domingo placed on her shoulders.
Miss Colombia, Emilia Dides, used her feathered outfit to highlight her country's cultural ties with host nation Mexico, according to the pageant's host.
Last (alphabetically) but not least was Miss Zimbabwe, Sakhile Dube, a multicolored eagle.
Miss USA, Alma Cooper, kept things classic in an Uncle Sam-inspired costume.
Miss Ukraine, Alina Ponomarenko, came in an armored outfit that symbolizes
Miss Nicaragua, Geyssell García, came dressed as her country's famous León Cathedral.
Miss Peru, Tatiana Calmell, channeled the Incan sun god, Inti.