The wildest national costumes from the 73rd annual Miss Universe pageant

Miss Nicaragua Geyssell García unveiled a vibrant costume behind a small replica of the León Cathedral.

Inspired by the UNESCO World Heritage site, García wore cathedral pieces and long peacock feathers on her forearms.

When she moved them, you could see her rhinestone-covered leotard with flame detailing, inspired by a mythical phoenix, as announced when she walked onstage.

She also wore a round, multicolored headpiece lined with a golden band. It represented Nicaragua's various lakes.

García, 29, works as a businesswoman in manufacturing and marketing.

Miss Venezuela Ileana Marquez Pedroza wore a costume that made her look as though she’d emerged from the Amazon rainforest.

The 28-year-old mother wore a tan, bedazzled bodysuit beneath blue bikini-style pieces across her chest and hips.

Behind the sparkling outfit was a backpiece crafted to look like leaves and branches, transforming Pedroza into a mother of nature, peace, and Indigenous children, according to the competition's announcers.

To further convey this message, Pedroza had faux parrots attached to her costume's branches and a baby doll in hand. The latter was painted gold and dressed in the same turquoise beads that adorned her outfit.

Miss Zimbabwe Sakhile Dube aimed to show the majesty of her nation with an eagle-inspired gown.

Sakhile, a 28-year-old fashion designer, stepped onstage in a strapless gown embellished with a yellow eagle face across its bodice.

She said on Instagram that she chose the bird to showcase Zimbabwe's natural beauty, strength, and vision.

She also wore purple wings that extended past her shoulders to mirror the rainbows and water of Victoria Falls and a skirt that looked like it was made from rocks to honor Great Zimbabwe, the remains of a once-medieval city.

Miss India Rhea Singha also wore a bird-inspired costume as an homage to her country's nickname.

India has long been called "Sone ki Chidiya," or the "Golden Bird," in reference to its natural resources and prosperity, according to the show's announcers.

So, the 19-year-old embodied that nickname with what appeared to be a heavy outfit that resembled a suit of armor. The costume covered her entire body with metal and featured massive wings that she carried on her back.

Singha — a model, actor, and social worker — also donned a matching gold helmet crafted like a bird's face. She walked slowly across the stage to carry each piece.

Miss Kyrgyzstan Maya Turdalieva found inspiration in the snow leopards that grace the Tian Shan mountain range.

Turdalieva, 26, made a statement onstage in a semi-sheer, gray-hued bodysuit with Swarovski-embellished spots to replicate the fur pattern of the big cats.

On Instagram, she said the animals are great representatives of Kyrgyzstan's resilience.

Handmade by Kyrgyz artisans, the animal-inspired costume also highlighted the need for wildlife conservation in her home country. She completed the look with a backpiece shaped like a shield and two swords, representing cultural pride and a willingness to defend her home.

Miss Serbia Ivana Trisic looked like royalty when she arrived wearing a feather-covered coat and statement crown.

Inspired by Serbia's coat of arms, 30-year-old Trisic stunned in gold and velvet. Beneath her textured cape was a golden corset covered in feathers, with two eagle heads emerging from its shoulders. She also wore sparkling chainmail pants, black platform boots, and a crystal belt.

Trisic, a law school graduate, aimed to honor Serbia's heritage, unity, and traditions with the outfit.

Miss Sri Lanka Melloney Dassanayake donned a sculpture on her back inspired by Sigiriya, a natural formation known as Lion Rock.

The 25-year-old banker and TV host looked tiny compared to the backpiece, which extended above her head and far past her shoulders.

She also wore a metal bralette, a green skirt with a copper belt, multicolored scarves hanging from her waistband, and lots of bangles across her arms.

For more color, Dassanayake added a pink flower crown and carried a matching bouquet of water lilies, a common flower across Sri Lanka.

Miss Netherlands Faith Landman embraced the art of Dutch ceramics with her blue and white costume.

The bodice and skirt of her white gown were decorated with blue sequins in the shapes of various flowers and a windmill, while her long sleeves were crafted from a fishnet material.

The 28-year-old mom also wore a floral headpiece and carried a round, double-sided backpiece behind her.

The latter was made to mirror the art and ceramic pieces famously handcrafted in the city of Delft.

Miss Trinidad and Tobago Jenelle Thongs brought the coral reefs of her island country to the Miss Universe stage.

Thongs, a 32-year-old aspiring author, brightened the stage with her one-piece outfit and massive feathered wings.

Both pieces were designed with neon shades of pink, green, and blue, similar to the awe-inspiring colors of marine life.

Another feature of her costume was her coral headband, which was covered in seashells, jewels, and small starfish-shaped pieces that matched those decorating her leotard.

Miss Spain Michelle Jiménez represented the women of her homeland with a rose-covered gown.

Jiménez, 21, wore a red velvet leotard with off-the-shoulder sleeves and an attached skirt. The latter two pieces were covered with roses to represent the country's passion, as announced during the contest.

Rather than wearing her Miss Spain sash across her chest, the model wrapped it around her wrist and waved it as she walked.

Jiménez completed her costume with statement earrings, platform heels, and a red crown.

Miss United States Alma Cooper took a style cue from Uncle Sam.

Cooper, a 22-year-old second lieutenant and military intelligence officer in the US Army, stepped onstage wearing a white leotard with red stripes, matching boots, and a star-embellished top hat.

She also wore a long-sleeved overcoat that reached the floor. Though it looked purple as cameras flashed, it was the same blue shade as seen on the American flag.

The patriotic ensemble wasn't complete without some fireworks. Cooper wore faux rockets across her back that were crafted to appear like they were mid-explosion.

Miss Paraguay Naomi Méndez made a costume change as she strutted down the runway.

The 32-year-old entrepreneur stepped onstage in a white layered dress, gold headpiece, and a rounded structure across her shoulders with white plants attached.

But with one spin, she removed the top layer and revealed a golden leotard that looked like armor.

It was announced during the contest that her costume was meant to showcase the evolution of Paraguayan women.

Miss Peru Tatiana Calmell honored the Incan sun god Inti with her golden two-piece and glimmering accessories.

The 30-year-old actor and model glided down the runway in a gold bra, a golden crown, and a matching mid-rise skirt with a long slit down the middle.

But the most mesmerizing parts of her outfit were the art panels that extended from her shoulders — showcasing sun rays and golden bricks — and the sun-shaped piece that rose behind her head.

Miss Mexico María Fernanda Beltrán Figueroa let her colorful costume do all the talking.

The 24-year-old communications professional, who's now studying to get her master's degree in artificial intelligence, walked onstage with her face covered by a giant green mask.

The piece was designed to transform Figueroa into "the daughter of the sun," as was announced during the competition.

It featured eight pieces, including a sphere backpiece, a tall hat covered in feathers, and a bejeweled corset over a matching skirt.

Miss Indonesia Clara Shafira Krebs embraced the energy of a warrior with a statement shoulder piece and bird-topped staff.

Her outfit consisted of a golden corset, matching shorts, red hip pieces, and a shoulder decoration that resembled wings.

And that's not to mention her headband, which mirrored the larger gold tendrils that made her costume stand out.

Krebs, a 22-year-old model, was dressed in honor of the herons commonly seen flying around the Indonesian city of Nusantara.

Miss Italy Glelany Cavalcante's costume was inspired by the Italian film industry of the 1960s.

Cavalcante's black-and-white ensemble featured a sparkly bodysuit at its base, while the detachable skirt, designed by Erasmo Fiorentino, looked like reels of film cascading around her, as Miss Italy shared on her Instagram.

Her black headpiece read "Cinecittà," where the Italian film industry has its roots. As an additional nod to cinema, she carried a bedazzled clapperboard.

Cavalcante is a 30-year-old model, and she is a university student pursuing her degree in communications.

The colorful cape on Miss Honduras Stephanie Cam's outfit told a story as she walked down the runway.

Cam, a 32-year-old model, content creator, and single mom, paired a black cropped top with a skirt adorned with multicolored beading.

She carried a backpiece attached to her arms with fabric that cascaded down to the floor. The cape featured multiple layers of fabric, each painted to depict a different aspect of Honduran culture. Cam dropped the different layers as she walked down the runway, showing off new elements of her home country.

A wide-brimmed hat completed her colorful outfit.

Miss Guatemala Ana Gabriela Villanueva's leaf-covered backpiece helped transform her into a tree for the contest.

As announced during the pageant, Villanueva paid homage to Guatemala's rainforest, wearing a semi-sheer, mesh bodysuit designed to resemble bark. It was adorned with sparkly embellishments and tassels to give it dimension, coordinating with a small headpiece.

A massive backpiece covered in faux leaves completed the illusion, with the leaves cascading to the floor and floating above Villanueva's head.

Villanueva, 22, is both a model and a law student.

Miss Costa Rica Elena Hidalgo took inspiration from her country's currency for her costume.

Hidalgo, 32, walked the costume contest in a long-sleeved, floor-length dress painted to resemble the colón, the Costa Rican currency, as pageant announcers shared while she walked the stage.

The dress was adorned with "Banco Central de Costa Rica," and the skirt depicted people picking fruit. Hidalgo carried a basket of fruit to help bring the image to life.

Hidalgo is getting her degree in nutrition in between her work as an international model and being a mother.

Miss Chile Emilia Dides' outfit celebrated a famous Chilean game show.

Dides' look was inspired by "Sábado Gigante," a famous game show in Chile, as shared during the live show on Telemundo.

Her red, sparkly bodysuit featured daring cutouts and flowed into a train decorated with faces designed to resemble an audience. The ensemble's backpiece mimicked the show's roulette wheel, with different prizes listed in the colorful sections it was divided into.

Dides, 25, is a musician who won a singing competition show in Chile in 2019.

Miss Cuba Marianela Ancheta's gold look paid tribute to a goddess.

As she shared on Instagram, Ancheta, a 31-year-old businesswoman and model, wore an ensemble inspired by the goddess Oshún, who represents fertility and love.

Because yellow and gold are traditionally associated with Oshún, Ancheta wore gold from head to toe. Her bedazzled bodice flowed into a skirt with large cutouts on each side, and a dramatic gold cape flowed behind her.

A flower-shaped head and backpiece adorned with sunflowers tied the look together.

Miss Dominican Republic Celinee Santos pulled inspiration from the oceans surrounding her home for her sheer costume.

The Dominican Republic is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and according to the live show, Santos celebrated those bodies of water with her ethereal look.

Her coordinating swimsuit set looked like shells, as did her arm cuffs and headpiece, which were covered in sparkly embellishments. Her backpiece formed one big shell overlaid with gossamer fabric.

Santos, 24, has a law degree and is in the middle of a law internship.

Miss Colombia Daniela Toloza Rocha celebrated the relationship between Mexico and Colombia with her colorful costume.

Rocha, a 30-year-old fashion designer and strategist, wore a bejeweled set as the base of her look, which she paired with coordinating leg cuffs and a belly chain.

Her feathered headpiece flowed up in tiers above her in different colors, while her reversible armpiece showed a portrait of a woman and a young child reaching toward each other.

Miss Denmark Victoria Kjær Theilvig transformed into a Viking goddess in her red and yellow costume.

Designed by Neftali Jahaziel Espinoza and Stalyn Nuñez, as she shared on her Instagram, Theilvig's bright costume featured a bedazzled, yellow set that appeared to have flames coming out of it.

Her feathered backpiece was mostly red, though it featured an inlay of the same gold and red sparkly pattern as her set. Red gloves, a large headpiece, and embellished ankle cuffs completed the powerful ensemble.

Theilvig, 21, is a successful competitive dancer who hopes to become a lawyer.

Miss Czech Republic Marie Danči turned gingerbread cookies into fashion for her costume.

Danči, a 28-year-old model, worked with designer David Hanykyr to create her gingerbread-inspired costume, according to her Instagram.

Her white strapless ball gown flowed into exaggerated ruffles at the hem, creating the illusion of icing dripping down from a cookie. An assortment of heart-shaped faux cookies sat atop the dress.

A white crown completed Danči's festive look.

Miss Canada Ashley Callingbull celebrated Indigenous women with her costume.

Callingbull, 35, is the first Indigenous woman to represent Canada at Miss Universe, and she celebrated her heritage with her costume, as she shared on Instagram.

Her purple, tiered ball gown, designed by Patrick Isorena, was made to look like the night sky with subtle sparkles in the fabric. It also featured lights embedded in the dress, glowing as she walked the runway.

Miss Bahamas Selvinique Wright honored a festival with her costume.

As announced during the pageant, Wright's colorful outfit, which featured a massive fish headpiece, was inspired by the Bamahian festival Junkanoo.

Her pink bodysuit was adorned with heavy beading, while her tulle skirt mimicked the ocean. She also wore a colorful backpiece that spread around her, making her look like an ocean reef.

Wright, 32, is a women's health advocate and the founder of Women's Health Us First.

Miss Bolivia Juliana Barrientos looked to the Tobas culture of her country for her costume.

Barrientos, a 27-year-old biochemist and pharmacist, turned herself into an owl in the style of a Tobas dancer for the costume contest, according to her Instagram. Qhapaq Ñan Art designed the look.

Her cropped black top was sparkly, while her floor-length skirt was adorned with black beading to make it look like it was covered in white feathers.

Barrientos' backpiece was the standout feature of her ensemble, as it was made to look like a massive owl floating above her with wings resting next to her torso.

Miss Argentina Magalí Benejam's outfit represented different aspects of a jungle.

Benejam, a 30-year-old model and animal rights activist, looked to Argentina's jungles for her costume, as announced during the pageant.

Her white-and-blue bodysuit was covered in sparkly embellishments, while feathered and bejeweled decorations floated down her arm. The bodysuit nodded to the waterfalls of the jungle while her multicolored, feathered headpiece celebrated the trees.

A glittering tucan headpiece completed her vibrant ensemble.

Miss Aruba Anouk Eman became the country's national animal, the burrowing owl, for the costume contest.

Eman's shining owl headpiece was the center of her look, while her arm pieces featured feather detailing that completed the owl effect.

She paired the feathery look with a sparkly set that featured a heart on the bodice.

According to Miss Universe, Eman, 32, found athletic success in Iron Man competitions after scoliosis prevented her from following her dreams of synchronized swimming in the Olympics.

Miss France Indira Ampiot paid tribute to the symbols of France with her national costume.

Ampiot's bedazzled ensemble featured a patriotic cape in the colors of France's flag, which matched the pageant queen's top. She also sported sheer sparkling gloves and a dramatic necklace.

According to the 20-year-old's Instagram, her bright-red hat was a tribute to the classic French beret, while the dramatic white feathers referenced the Gallic rooster.

Ampiot is from Guadeloupe, an overseas region of France in the Caribbean. In her Miss Universe bio, Ampiot said she's a "fervent ambassador of cultural diversity and the beauty of our French heritage."

Miss Ecuador Mara Topić made an entrance with her national costume, which references the historic center of her country’s capital.

Topić's national costume featured the monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo, both of which are in Quito. Ecuador's capital city has Latin America's best-preserved historic center and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The 30-year-old pageant queen's ensemble featured a sparkling red wrap skirt, which she opened to reveal a vibrant illustration of the country's landscape. Topić balanced the two churches on her shoulders as two white bird figurines flew above them. Her dramatic backpiece, which she revealed onstage, added a floral backdrop lined with red feathers.

According to her Miss Universe bio, Topić is a director and actor. She has worked with Daddy Yankee and appeared on "Law & Order."

Miss Bulgaria Elena Vian dressed as a rose, her country’s national flower, for the Miss Universe stage — but she gave it a fierce twist.

According to the Miss Universe announcers, Vian, 38, wanted her national costume to symbolize the "strength and subtle danger" of female beauty.

Her ensemble featured a red bralette and shorts that matched her bright-red hair and knee-high red boots. Her gold headpiece and shoulder piece were both adorned with roses. The outfit also featured a gold choker that crept up Vian's neck onstage as she spit out fake blood during her walk.

Vian has a master's degree in economics and designs ensembles for live performances, according to her Miss Universe bio. She's also the mother to a 4-year-old girl.

Miss Persia Ava Vahneshan glittered in gold as she walked down the Miss Universe stage.

According to the Miss Universe announcers, Vahneshan's national costume symbolized "good thoughts, good words, and good deeds." The metallic gold wings on her backpiece represent the Faravahar, a symbol of ancient Persia.

Vahneshan, 26, paired the ensemble with a sparkling gold crown that matched her bodice and a voluminous white skirt.

According to her Miss Universe bio, the pageant queen is a Persian-Portuguese singer, model, and Chinese medicine specialist.

Miss Saint Lucia Skye Faucher brought the Olympics to the Miss Universe stage with her national costume.

Faucher's costume is a tribute to Julien Alfred, who won Saint Lucia's first-ever Olympic medal after taking gold in the women's 100-meter final in Paris.

The 24-year-old wore a cobalt-blue jumpsuit with white, black, and yellow details, paying homage to Saint Lucia's flag. Faucher also sported a big gold medal around her neck and a backpiece with the iconic Olympic rings.

Faucher is a cancer genomics scientist, according to her Miss Universe bio. She also plays volleyball and is a big supporter of women's sports.

Miss Myanmar Thet San Andersen spread her gold wings in tribute to the owl.

According to her Instagram, Andersen, 23, wanted to bring good luck to the Miss Universe stage by dressing as a sparkling gold owl, which is considered a good luck charm in Myanmar that brings "wisdom, prosperity, and clarity."

"There's a belief that if an owl flies into a house, it's a positive omen," her caption reads. "The tradition is to honor the owl by pouring water infused with gold and silver on it before setting it free."

Andersen is a fashion designer, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker.

Miss Jamaica Rachel Silvera shimmered in a green and yellow costume that paid homage to her country's dancehall music.

Silvera's ensemble featured a long-sleeve green bodysuit adorned with sequins and feathers and a flowing ruffled cape in green, black, and gold — the colors of Jamaica's flag. She wore a backpiece that featured sparkling boombox speakers, plus a flowing yellow wig.

According to the Miss Universe Jamaica Instagram, the national costume specifically pays tribute to the female Jamaican artists and DJs who contributed to dancehall music — including Sister Nancy, Lady G, and Patra — and the "high fashion, swag, and style" that came with them.

Silvera, 25, is an environmental advocate and a third-year pharmacy student.

Miss US Virgin Islands Stephany Andujar brought the beauty of the ocean to the Miss Universe stage with her blue national costume.

Andujar's dramatic ensemble featured a bodysuit completely covered in blue sparkles. She also wore a bright-blue feathered headpiece and backpiece, which resembled wings as they fluttered behind her onstage. Matching feathers also adorned her boots, completing the look.

According to the Miss US Virgin Islands Instagram, Andujar's costume references Atabey, the goddess of fertility, while the blue color represents the ocean. The shield on Andujar's backpiece represents "the phases of the moon and the symbols of the Virgin Islands."

Andujar, 28, is a licensed esthetician and a professional makeup artist.

Miss Mongolia Nominzul Zandan channeled the spirit of the warrior as she walked the Miss Universe stage.

In her Miss Universe bio, Zandan, 18, describes herself as a "fierce and resilient Mongolian woman, born and raised on the vast plains." She brought that strength to the Miss Universe stage with a national costume ready for battle.

Zandan wore a flowing green and gold ensemble, complete with gold armor and a helmet. A shield was attached to her waist, and the pageant queen carried a bow and arrow in her tribute to Mongolian warriors.

Zandan hopes to use her platform to ensure that quality education is accessible to everyone, no matter where they live, according to a Voice for Change video.

Miss Switzerland Laura Bircher sparkled like the Swiss Alps with her national costume.

Bircher's shimmering white ensemble featured a ruffled skirt that paid tribute to her country's snow-capped mountains. The sparkles that adorned her opera gloves and headpiece symbolized the "crystals of the snow," while the blue in the costume's gems and beads represented the color of the sky, according to the Miss Universe announcers.

The 23-year-old pageant queen is an advocate for mental health. According to a video on her Instagram page, Bircher wants to spread awareness for anxiety and depression.

Miss Thailand Opal Suchata Chuangsri radiated power in her national costume.

According to her Instagram, Chuangsri's intricate gold costume is called "Siam Manustree," which translates to "the outfit to commemorate the heroine of Siam." It references Queen Suriyothai, who sacrificed her life in a royal battle to "defend the kingdom of Thailand."

"This reflects the boundless power of the Thai woman who led, battled, and sacrificed herself for the kingdom that Thai people inherit and live in today," the caption reads.

Chuangsri, 21, studied international relations and hopes to become a diplomat one day. She is an advocate for breast cancer awareness.

Miss Samoa Haylani Kuruppu dressed as Moana, the Polynesian Disney princess, for her national costume.

Kuruppu wore a black-and-orange bandeau top and skirt that almost perfectly matched Moana's outfit in the popular 2016 animated film. Kuruppu's belt featured coconut shells, and she carried a spear as she walked across the Miss Universe stage. Her dramatic headpiece featured green and orange feathers.

According to the Miss Universe announcers, Kuruppu's ensemble as the Disney character "represents the strength of a nation."

Kuruppi, 26, brought Miss Samoa back to the Miss Universe stage after a 38-year absence.

Miss Estonia Valeria Vasilieva brought the drama with a fierce and feathered national costume.

Vasilieva's costume featured a sparkling bodice with blue and gold gems and a skirt of blue feathers. Her backpiece was covered in white, black, and blue feathers — the colors of Estonia's flag. The pageant queen carried a sword and sparkling shield decorated with the three blue lions found on Estonia's coat of arms.

According to her Miss Universe bio, Vasilieva, 23, is an actor and entrepreneur who runs her own talent agency.

Miss Belarus Eleonora Kachalovskaya looked pretty as a flower in her national costume for Miss Universe.

Kachalovskaya sported a bright ensemble covered in flora and fauna. Leaves sprouted from her shoulders and fell across her forest-green skirt while pink flowers decorated her headpiece. While walking across the stage, Kachalovskaya removed a pink rose from one of her straps and held it out to the crowd.

According to the Miss Universe announcers, Kachalovskaya's outfit is an ode to Belarus' "12,000 different types of plants and flowers."

Kachalovskaya, 24, graduated from the Belarusian State University of Culture and Art, according to her Miss Universe bio. She is a volunteer and advocate for children with special needs.

Miss Macau Cassandra Chiu blended her country's Eastern and Western roots with this sophisticated national costume.

Chiu, 23, kept things simple but chic with her sheer white gown, which was covered in subtle sparkles and gems and featured a corseted bodice. She sported a silver headpiece and carried a feathered cape.

As the first-ever Miss Macau, Chiu is "proudly representing her multicultural heritage as a Chinese-Portuguese model, dancer, and digital creator," according to her Miss Universe bio.