Miss Universe 2024: Wildest outfits from the National Costume Contest

• The 73rd annual Miss Universe pageant will take place in Mexico.
• On Thursday, the participants in the national costume competition competed in colorful looks.
• The best looks of the night included feathers, bold back pieces and nods to the contestants’ cultures.

The most exciting party week of the year has finally arrived as the 73rd annual Miss Universe pageant kicked off in Mexico City.

A new Miss Universe will be crowned on Saturday, but contestants gathered for the preliminary competition on Thursday, which included the national costume competition.

The pageant gives aspiring pageants the chance to celebrate an aspect of their culture in a festive costume, and contestants always step out for the event in sparkly, colorful ensembles.

Take a look at some of the wildest outfits contestants wore this year, from elaborate faux wings to bejeweled headdresses.