Miss Universe 2024: Wildest outfits from the national costume contest

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.