Miss Universe 2021: these were the best national costumes

This weekend, after a spectacular beauty pageant, Andrea Meza was chosen out of 73 national Misses to become this year's Miss Universe. She'd always been one of the favourites according to experts and bookmakers. At the National Costume round Andrea wore this creation called "Alebrije," or "fantasy." It refers to the traditional animal carvings with bright colours made in her home country.

The National Costume round was the beginning of the global beauty pageant. Here we show you the exuberant creations of some of the favourites in this competition. If you want to see all the Misses, there's a complete this list of all contestants here.

Let's first appreciate Jeanette Akua, Miss Great Britain, who's wearing a spectacular monochrome outfit of royal dimensions.

This candidate had one of the most original national costumes. Miss Bahamas dressed like a pilot and brought a whole plane with her! It was a tribute to Bahamas Air.

Along with Miss Mexico, Miss South Africa was also a favourite according to experts and bookmakers.

"This costume was Inspired by the Black Swan – a native Australian bird, the emblem of Western Australia and a symbol of HOPE," Maria Thattil wrote on Instagram.

Amandine Petit, representing France with a big national flag, chose a revealing diamond sequin outfit underneath a white gown.

Here's Miss Colombia - one of the favourites - who depicts the Goddess of the Makuira from her native region.

(Photo: @eden_blanco)

Did you know Brazil is one of the main producers of cotton? Well, now you do. Miss Brazil used an effective technique to teach you this fact. By the way, Brazil was one of the ten favourites among bookmakers, as was the next, Miss Peru.

The nation of Peru celebrates its 200th birthday in July 2021. Janick Maceta's costume is inspired by the parihuana bird, she explains, whose colours returned in the national flag designed by liberator Don José de San Martín. "What pride to be able to wear it!."

Speaking of pride, check out the costume of Miss Uruguay! A reference to LGBTQ rights, although the message written on the fabric is more generally about 'rejection' and 'discrimination.'

Miss Argentina honoured the legendary soccer player Maradona, who famously said: "I only ask that you let me live my own life. I never wanted to be an example." Alina responds to that: "We are not the one to judge your personal life, but I am sure you were an example of how to represent the Blue and White with pride and loyalty."

While Miss Uruguay and Argentina were not necessarily on the top of bookmakers' lists, they did have high hopes for Miss Puerto Rico. With her National Costume she is honouring the Puerto Rican artist Walter, "a pioneer of freedom and universal acceptance."

Bernadette Belle Ong made a statement with her cape (in the colours of the Singapore flag). When she turned around, the cape read: 'Stop Asian Hate.' The phrase refers to a campaign in the U.S. to counter anti-Asian racism.

Another 'political' statement was made - as far as that is allowed at the Miss Universe pageant - by Miss Myanmar. Her country is the theatre of civil war and she wanted to call attention to that situation rather than just displaying the country's national flower or some other source of pride.

All the way from Malaysia came Francisca James with an entire house! It's a copy of a typical home in the Malaysian countryside. In fact, Francisca is the first fully native contestant from that country. To be specific: she's a Dayak native with mixed Kayan-Kenyah-Iban lineage.

The costume of Miss Panama refers to the three ships of Christopher Columbus: La Niña, La Pinta, and La Santa María. "More than 500 years of legend, culture and tradition," she says on her Instagram page.

(Photo: @franciscoandara)

Representing Belgium is Miss Dhenia Covens with a dress that references the diamond city of Antwerp. According to her social media team, "she chose orange because this color is precious for a diamond and gives a life full of energy."

And here we have Miss Thailand, who was another favourite according to the bookies. When you look at her belly, you'll see the Siamese Fighting Fish sticking out, which is the national aquatic animal of the country. Very inventive!

This spectacular outfit refers to a popular festival in Nicaragua: 'La Gritería de Leon'.  Artisans made all its parts by hand: "fans, chichiles, whistles, noisemakers, hats that enhance each of the pieces of this beautiful creation that balances the artisanal and the fanciful," Miss Nicaragua says.

(Photo: @ fotograma.ni)

Nadia Sayers came to the National Costume round in a fairy suit that had 700 hand-painted butterflies and dragonflies on it.

Nepal is known, among other things, for its Mount Everest and the heroic struggles to climb it. Anshika Sharma wore an elegant outfit that inventively referred to this icon of her country.

Asya Branch wore a stunning National Costume with a clear reference to the mockingbird. This beautiful animal is a symbol for her state, Mississippi.

Miss Ecuador's costume represents "the popular Inti Raymi Festival, and shows the greatness of the Andean peoples," the designer wrote on Instagram.

Adline Castelino's saree was inspired by the Lotus, India's national flower. "The saree is a traditional attire that binds the whole country together," the India Times writes. "Yardage of priceless legacy, the saree is known to have eighty different styles of draping. It does not judge of class or caste, worn by most Indian women even today."

Although the bottom may have some resemblance to a peeled green banana, the top of the costume clearly shows that it refers to El Salvador's national flower, the Izote. It even has birds in it! “Fun fact: apart from being beautiful, it is also used to create dishes for food, medicine and textiles," Miss El Salvador says.

Miss Canada is a superhero! She has the symbolism of the Canadian maple leaf and the heart on her shield, referencing the struggle against injustice and for humanitarianism.

As many other Misses, Miqueal-Symone Williams wears a costume inspired by her country's national flower. The enormous lilac flowers, based on the Lignum vitae, were simply spectacular. For this and other reasons, bookmakers had high hopes for Miss Jamaica.

Sunniva Frigstad from Norway impresses by showing off her waist with a bit more flesh than those of the other Misses. Her message is to accept women with all shapes and sizes. And that of the costume? It represents "Norway as a free country as the reindeer is when it goes under the northern lights in sparkling snow!"

The Korean traditional costume of the Hanbok is centuries old. Not this particular exemplar, of course, as it was especially made for Hari Park in the brightest of fuchsia and pink.

The national costume of Miss Venezuela has the name 'Diosa de Ologá' ('Goddess of Ologá) and refers to a natural phenomenon involving endless flashes of lightning. In 2013, the lighting sky even made the Guinness Book of Records for "highest average number of lightning strikes per square kilometre," the organisation of Miss Venezuela explains.

(Photo: @wg_fotografi)

See the complete list of Miss Universe 2021 participants