From channeling legends to showcasing their nations’ rich history, 103 women donned their national costumes with pride at the Miss Universe 2024 preliminaries
At the National Costume category of every Miss Universe competition, it is not just the women who walk on stage donning their most creative attires—they also bring with them the spirit of the countries they represent. This year’s edition featured an array of national representations, from monochromatic wedding dresses and colorful flora-and-fauna-inspired looks to cultural fusions that tell the story of their history. Indeed, it was diversity personified in and by the contenders. Among the 125 candidates, here are MEGA’s Top 10 picks for the National Costume category:
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Cuba
Inspired by the protective and maternal Oshún—a Yoruba orisha or divine spirit in Cuban culture—Marianela Ancheta paraded down the Miss Universe stage in a yellow and gold ensemble intricately embellished by Cuba’s finest showcase of nature. Peacock feathers and sunflowers adorned Ancheta’s national costume, symbolizing the country’s natural beauty. Traditionally used as offerings to the Oshún, the said flower is also a symbol of hope and resilience for Cuba with its search of light—a mirror of their own clamor for freedom.
Dominican Republic
Taking inspiration from the glimmering waters of the Caribbean Sea, Dominican Republic’s Celinee Santos commanded the stage with her clamshell-resembling national costume. Pearls dominated the whole ensemble, accentuated by the organza fabric and the fringed bottom. Shining, shimmering, and splendid on stage, Celinee flowed through the preliminaries with confidence as expected from the next Miss Universe.
Egypt
Breathing second life to one of Egypt’s most significant rulers, Logina Salah transformed into Cleopatra in both her fashion and beauty looks. The detailed intricacy of her ensemble through patterns and beadwork, down to her hand-painted cape with illustrations of the pyramids and the Sphynx testified to the country’s eye for detail as depicted by their historical architecture. While other candidates let their costumes speak for themselves, Logina didn’t settle for less—much like Cleopatra. Her kohl-lined lids were a tale as old and as meaningful as the national costume; this makeup was a cultural and traditional practice of protection from evilness.
Guyana
Ariana Blaize was a blazing presence in the preliminaries, paying homage to Kai—a selfless chief of an indigenous tribe of Guyana who sacrificed his life for peace, leading to the birth of the country’ Kaieteur Falls. The contender took further flight on stage with her feathered wings representing the rare birds of her country. If one were to carry her country in a competition, so must she with confidence, courage, and strength—just as Ariana did.
India
A gilded presence no eye could miss at the preliminaries, Miss Universe India Rhea Singha graced the stage carrying two meanings of gold with her national costume. First was the Golden Bird, the country’s symbol of prosperity and affluences; and second—the Gupta civilization, where poetry, prose, drama, mathematics, and astronomy thrived in the country. Taking notes of the past and carrying its message to the future, one could say that Rhea aced the category with flying colors, or rather, in gold.
Mexico
Representing the host country of this year’s Miss Universe, Maria Fernanda Beltran Figueroa donned a national costume declaring that festivities were, indeed, in order. Coming out on stage as Chalchiuhtlicue, the divine daughter of the sun, she brought color, honor, and pride to Mexico with her extravagantly feathered ensemble.
New Zealand
Half-Filipino Victoria Velasquez Vincent might have chosen to represent a small guardian fowl of the forests—the fantail—at the preliminaries, but her regal presence magnified the native bird of New Zealand on stage. Much like her identity, VVV’s national costume was a marriage between the two countries—a Filipino designer and a Māori artist collaborated to embody the spirit of kaitiakitanga, or guardianship, conservation, and protection into the black and white ensemble. Apart from the fauna, they also honored the country’s flora and patterned the costume’s design to the silver fern endemic to the nation and symbolizing strength, resistance, and enduring power.
Peru
It was nighttime in Mexico during the preliminaries, but a star rose among the contenders—Tati Calmell del Solar Ortega was Inti, the Incan Empire’s sun god. Gilded and graceful on stage, the Miss Universe Peru candidate was a sight to behold with her golden ensemble—in full brightness with the rays that surely were hard to miss or take your eyes away from. Tati proved that just like the sun, she could command the room with equal parts warmth and fierceness—two qualities that a Miss Universe should embody.
Philippines
Entitled “Hiraya,” the national costume of Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo was a creative iteration of unity in diversity with faith as its binding force. It was a union of two religions, two countries, and two colors—Christianity and Islam, Philippines and Mexico, and yellow and blue. The Galleon Trade ship worn as a headdress honored the arrival of Our Lady of Antipolo into the country, a figure originally from Mexico; the emblem seamlessly fit into the main piece—the sleeved high-collar gown made from Sultan Kudarat’s traditional Inaul frabric, Puni art, and Tongkaling bells from Mindanao for blessings and protection. If it’s true that you are what you wear, then it must be said—Chelsea was a regal force with her quiet confidence during this round.
Zimbabwe
Soaring in mesmerizing wings was Miss Universe Zimbabwe Sakhile Dube who came as The Soaring Eagle. A reflection of her country’s majesty, deep heritage, proud identity, natural wonders, and cultural roots, the fowl-inspired national costume and its iridescent wings carried the virtues of strength, grace, vision, and endurance. Sakhile was the horizon where the sky and the land met as she donned the creation that gave a nod to the rainbow of Victoria Falls and the ancient stone ruins of the Great Dzimbadzemabwe. More than a union of Zimbabwe’s sites, Dube’s The Soaring Eagle was also their take on marrying tradition and modernity as well as the past and the future.
Featured Image, Photos, and Videos: MARIANELA ANCHETA, LOGINA SALAH, MISS UNIVERSE GUYANA, NGUYEN NGOC TU, MISS UNIVERSE, AXEL QUE, ORGANIZACIÓN MISS PERÚ, CHELSEA MANALO, SAKHILE DUBE (via Instagram)
