Miss India's umbrella and other fascinating costumes of Miss Universe 2021

The new Miss Universe, Harnaaz Sandhu from India, chose a traditional wedding parasol for the pageant's national costume competition. It was "the move that won over Miss Universe judges," NDTV would later report. Let's have a look at the remarkable costumes in the most interesting segment of the Miss Universe competition.

As she explained to Finnish media, Essi Unkuri takes a stand against climate change. Her costume represents the sun and the melting poles, and her heavenly blue cape says: "Stop Deforesting." Miss Finland's environmentally conscious national costume was designed by Merja Thil, who also makes the local 'Masked Singer' costumes.

Yely Rivera was born at the foot of the Misti volcano in the so-called 'White City' of Arequipa. Her dress is an ode to that birthplace with its architecture in beautiful white volcanic stone. Her creation is called 'The Queen of the Andes.'

Miss Canada's national costume is a nod to the Mountie ceremonial uniform of the north-American country.

Sarah Loinaz's Spanish costume is a homage to the modernist architect Antoni Gaudí, whose work is characterized by free forms and colorful mosaics.

The national costume of Miss Great Britain is colourful like the English rose it represents. Her outfit was designed by April Banbury.

Eloisa Jo-Hannah Seifer's outfits references the south-German dirndl while she supports the federal eagle that stands for the nation's unity.

Miss South Africa is a ballerina and makes references to the Swan Lake in her national costume.

Ora Ivanisevic tells her followers on Instagram that her national costume "represents the coastal part of Croatia and the beauty of the deep Adriatic Sea."

(Image: IG @missuniversecroatiaorg, by @n_raguz)

Miss USA's costume, which represents the Emmy Award! Designer Randall K. Smith wants to say with this outfit "to every young women who has dreams and desires that you can walk whatever carpet you want because you are fierce and fearless."

Miss India wears a beautiful pink ensemble that symbolizes the protective instincts of a woman. The umbrella or parasol is part of that symbolism, as it is an object for shelter.

Beatrice Gomez wears a creation by the avant-garde designer Axel Que. It was inspired by the Bakunawa, a mythical figure from the Philippines that has the shape of a sea serpent or dragon.

The national costume of Miss Namibia has a title: 'Child of Salt and Soil.' It's an ode to the pink salt pans at her hometown, Walvis Bay, where flamingos grace the scene.

(Image: IG @chelsi_shikongo, by @paolografia)

"My typical costume is inspired by one of the most ancient cultures of Mexico: the Aztec culture," Debora Hallal says on Instagram. "Three months of work by @teban_ortiz making this incredible costume with more than 1 million crystals inlaid highlighting the emblematic Aztec calendar."

Miss Australia's national costume represents the country's natural beauty with "huge vistas of oceans juxtaposed with red land and vivid local plants," The Morning Show in Australia explained.

Miss Cambodia's national costume represents "Khmer ladies in the work of promoting Khmer cultural art through various theatre and dance styles," she says on Instagram.

Agata Wdowiak's costume is inspired by Polish folk culture. It was designed by the label Mona Lissa.

Miss China, Shi Yin Yang wears a classic Chinese kimono.

Miss Vietnam's national costume is inspired by the traditional sticky rice cake from Kim Duyen's hometown.

(Image: IG, @missuniversevietnam, by Milor Trần)

Juri Watanabe wears a costume that is both a celebration of the Japanese harajuku aesthetic and a reference to the outfit Israeli singer Netta wore when she won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018.

The name of this national costume is 'Protectora de Nuestras Costas' (Protector of Our Coasts) and it's been made in part out of plastic bottles, caps and bags - the artifacts that often pollute the seas and beaches. The costume also refers to Puerto Rican Afro- not only pays tribute to the Puerto Rican indigenous music 'La Bomba.'

Miss Ghana is a green goddess, whose national costume refers to several regions and traditions in her country. The eagle-feathered headdress, for example "pays homage to the carrier of the most important sword of many Asante states," Miss Universe Ghana says on Instagram.