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Miss Universe’s Spectacle of National Costumes

Miss Universe, she’s the most beautiful woman in the world. Just a week ago at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, on August 23^rd, the Miss Universe Pageant crowned another lovely lady into this elite group of pageant royalty.  While Jimena Naverrete, Miss Mexico, won the 2010 title and walked her victory walk down the stage and no doubt took home a ton of cash and fabulous prizes, some of the most memorable moments were from the parade of national costumes. The national costumes portion of the Miss Universe Pageant is not a judged event, but an much anticipated display of feathers, sequins and such that exemplifies each girl’s ability to capture the spirit of her home country.

The award for “Best National Costume” went to Miss Thailand, Fonthip Watcharatrakul who dazzled the audience with a Thai costume featuring leg bracelets and a huge golden staff shaped like a leaf. Of the remaining national country costumes on display there were the simply outrageous and then the shockingly outrageous. Miss Venezuela wore a space-age silver mosaic jumpsuit with a dramatic one-armed cape and Lady Gaga-esque headpiece. Miss USA wore a skimpy gold leotard backed with huge eagle wings and stars; quite a national treasure.

There were other silly and sensational show-stopping looks. The France costume, at first glance, appeared to be a lovely, white evening gown until the beauty pulled out the train behind her festoon with the French flag. Oh, and you couldn’t miss her hat – a typical French beret topped by a silver Eiffel tower! Miss Zambia showed off her country’s best assets with a national costume that featured gourds, a popular native plant, perched strategically over her chest.

A few of the national costumes were a bit lackluster, like a last-minute shopping trip down to the formal department of J.C. Pennys. And, of course, many were over-the-top showgirl costumes that any drag queen would die for. You don’t have to be entering a beauty pageant to dress up in a women’s costume that depicts your love for the motherland – try one on for size and you may realize you’ve found the perfect outfit for a Halloween costume, patriotic festival costume, or downtown parade.