The fantastic craziness of the Miss Universe costume competition
It’s the most campy time of year. Yes, the Miss Universe pageant (airing Sunday at 8 p.m. on FYI), and that over-the-top, crazy event: the national costume contest.
Forget boring gowns and bikinis. These are kimonos, feathers, headdresses, tridents, wings. In 2015, Miss Thailand went as a motorized rickshaw known as a tuk-tuk. That same year, Miss Canada went as the Stanley Cup, complete with hockey sticks. While some of the “national” images are pretty obvious — Miss Japan this year is in a karate outfit holding a gold medal for the Olympics — half the fun is trying to figure out what flower, bird or symbol these intricate costumes are suppose to represent.
Post critic Johnny Oleksinski and fashion editor Serena French take a look at some of the standout costumes of 2021:
MISS CANADA
Wonder Woman, eh?
Miss Canada, Nova Stevens, appears onstage at the Miss Universe 2021 National Costume Show. Rodrigo Varela/Getty ImagesJohnny: Wow. I’ve never been there, but is this how people dress in Saskatchewan?
Man ventures onto coastal cliff, gets absolutely owned by massive wave
Serena: If only hockey night looked this good.
MISS DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Nice stems.
Serena: She’s goddess of sunflowers.
Miss Dominican Republic Kimberly Jiménez in her sunflower getup. Rodrigo Varela/Getty ImagesJohnny: Hey Mister! My flowers are up here!!
MISS NEPAL
A sexy sherpa, complete with bejeweled oxygen mask
Anshika Sharma looks ready to climb the mountain in her costume. Getty Images
Miss Nepal Anshika Sharma has all the trappings of a climber. Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images.Serena: This outfit is strictly peak performance: that mask can only be worn on the roof of the world and she’s got Mt. Everest in her purse!
Johnny: Climb ev’ry mountain, Ford every stream, follow ev’ry rainbow . . .
MISS SINGAPORE
Now that she has your attention . .
.Serena: A caped crusader fighting crime wearing an important message.
Singapore’s representative Bernadette Belle Ong at the competition. Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images
Bernadette Belle Ong brings a call to action on her cape. Getty ImagesMISS FRANCE
In fairness, she’s wearing more on top than the regular depiction of Marianne.
The Wing is allowing another man in: Cory Booker
Johnny: I Louvre it.
Miss France Amandine Petit doing her best to resemble France. Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images
Amandine Petit adjusted her dress to show more skin. Getty ImagesSerena: Following the national motto Liberte, Equalite, Fraternite, at the end she overthrew her dress.
MISS ARGENTINA
Hand of god, shirt of soccer great
Miss Argentina Alina Akselrad going for the goal in her soccer uniform. Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images
Diego Maradona gets a tribute at Miss Universe. Getty Images.Serena: She can bend it like Maradona.
MISS GREAT BRITAIN
Yaas queen.
Jeanette Akua gives off a royal vibe for Great Britain. Rodrigo Varela/Getty ImagesSerena: She could rule any runway.
MISS FINLAND
Aurora beautyealis.
Viivi Altonen had the light shine on her and Finland. Rodrigo Varela/Getty ImagesSerena: The sky’s the limit in this Northern Lights number.
Johnny: I know Europe can be behind on American trends, but it’s wild that they just got Lite Brite.
MISS BAHAMAS
Celebrating Bahamas airline (or maybe the Bermuda triangle)
Shauntae-Ashleigh Miller rocks a pilot costume. Getty Images
Shauntae-Ashleigh Miller now has north of 8,000 Instagram followers. Rodrigo Varela/Getty ImagesJohnny: This jewel-studded look must’ve cost her a lot of frequent flyer miles.
MISS PUERTO RICO
The Zodiac killer look
Miss Universe Puerto Rico Estefanía Soto put on a lavish look on the stage. Getty ImagesSerena: Signs point to fabulous.
Johnny: I can’t decide how I feel about this look because I’m a Pisces.
MISS USA
Burning hot.
Miss Universe USA Asya Branch hails from Mississippi. Rodrigo Varela/Getty ImagesSerena: What more glamorous way to rise like a phoenix from the flames?
MISS BRAZIL
Wikipedia tells us Brazil is the fifth-largest producer of cotton in the world.
Miss Brazil Julia Gama’s outfit was filled with cotton balls. Rodrigo Varela/Getty ImagesJohnny: When I think of beautiful, vibrant, sunny Brazil, the first things that pops into my head are cotton balls and twigs.
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