Miss Universe 2022: the best national costumes

In the week of 9 to 14 January, the new Miss Universe was chosen. It was the 71st international beauty pageant of its kind. Miss USA, R'Bonney Gabriel, ended up winning the contest.

Over the course of the week, women from over 80 countries showed different, beautiful sides of themselves. One particularly popular segment of the contest is the national costume gallery. Have a look at some of the best entries!

The Colombian candidate presented an exuberant side of her country's culture, with bright colors and the reference to fire and passion.

Miss Guatemala, Ivana Batchelor, drew a lot of attention when she appeared on the parade in a complex structured and glittering outfit.

Great Britain was one of the highlights of the national costumes parade. Her gown showcased royalty as well as the people's love of the British monarchy.

The candidate from Ghana wore a dress with a wide skirt that represented the natural wealth of her country and the struggle of her people.

Ndavi Nokeri brought flags from Africa, the most important being the South African flag.

Miss Trinidad and Tobago was inspired by her country's ancestral culture, which gave rise to a bold model and excelled in the mastery of gold.

Chayenne Van Aarle's costume mixed feathers and metallic fabric to symbolize the way Belgium's lights look from the sky. She used to be a flight attendant and now wants to raise awareness of the vulnerability of the planet, especially when you see it from above.

The candidate from the United States was at home in the city of New Orleans where the contest was held. She shone on the catwalk representing her land quite literally: the stars of the states as they appear in the American flag.

Miss Vietnam wore a traditional gown with accessories made from local materials. She avoided the glitter and glamour of some of the other costumes and made a bet in showing the originality of her people.

Miss Ukraine used the contest as a political act in which she alluded to justice and peace among all peoples. In other outfits, too, she integrated the Ukrainian flag which has come to stand for opposition to the Russian invasion.

Canada emerged in the presentation of typical costumes with the lightness and class of the candidate dressed as a ballerina.

Miss Italy, Virgínia Stablum, took her chances with an eighteenth-century gentlemen's costume. She brought to the stage a bit of Venice Carnival.

Miss Netherlands dove deep into the passions of their country and showed a daring outfit that alluded to the Dutch biscuit, stroopwafel. On her head is a cup of coffee with the stroopwafel on top of it - that's how the Dutch like to heat the cookie and make the caramel melt.

Kristina Ayanian, the candidate from Armenia, wore an outfit expressing her people's right to life.

Japan, represented by Marybelen Sakamoto, came up with an outfit full of grace, mixing white, gold, feathers, and bright accessories.

With a classy outfit, the candidate from Germany alluded to her cause in defense of animals.

The candidate presented a golden costume that represents the power and beauty of the Arab woman.

Floriane Bascou used the colors of the French flag with great sympathy and determination.

The Filipina contestant was one of the favorites in the Miss Universe pageant. Her national costume made her look like a real superhero. You may be thinking of Wonder Woman, but in fact, this is the local culture's heroine, Darna.

Alessia Rovegno showed a Peru full of strong colors in allusion to the diversity of her country.

Miss Lebanon Yasmina Zaytoun used elements of the national flag for her costume. She represented her country with foliage alluding to the Lebanese cedar, a tree characteristic of the region, and a symbol of strength and eternity.

The Mexican Miss opted for a traditional look from her country, where embroidery and a sombrero could not be missing.

The candidate Alicia Faubel showed all the strength of the Spanish woman, wearing a flamenco dress with a modern and daring cut.

Miss Thailand took the stage in a white and silver outfit in which she mixed the notion of flowing water with the myth of the seven Songkran women from Thai folklore.

Miss Angola was born in The Netherlands to Angolan parents. She is truly bicultural and shows her strong connection to the African nation's culture with her national costume.

The Brazilian Mia Mamede presented a costume that refers to the bottom of the sea, its grandeur, and its beauty.

The representative of Portugal paid homage to the northern region of her country with a plaque and the region's predominant colors.

Miss Greece arrived on the stage making reference to the legacy of her country's mythology.

Angel J Cartwright used a unique model, with volume, color, and surprising materials.