SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss Universe 2019 National Costumes: My TOP 20 List!

INCREDIBLE COSTUMES--National Costumes from Miss Universe 2019 contestants (L to R) Miss Universe Costa Rica Paola Chacon, Miss Universe Laos Vichitta Phonevilay, Miss Universe India Vartika Singh, Miss Universe Philippines Gazini Ganados, and Miss Universe Brazil Julia Horta--Miss Universe 2019 National Costume Presentation Show, Atlanta Georgia

This Sunday is the Finals for the 68th Miss Universe competition. In advance of the Finals, this past Friday night was the National Costume Presentation Show during the Miss Universe 2019 Preliminary Competition. The 90 contestants vying for the crown showed off some of the most ORIGINAL, STUNNING and SUPER CREATIVE COSTUMES I have seen in a long time! Kudos to the creative teams, designers, workers, sewers, painters, hand-beaders...who made these costumes a reality.


Watching one after another work of Costume Art was a thrill for someone like me. I only wish that they had a much bigger, dramatic stage to showcase all of them; a hotel ballroom in Atlanta just didn't give it the duly deserved platform, such a shame. But on a good note: It was DEFINITELY the highlight of watching last night's Preliminaries (besides all those unfortunate slips and falls during the Swimsuit competition). Without further ado, here is my TOP 20 LIST of Miss Universe 2019 National Costumes:

1. Miss Universe LAOS Vichitta Phonevilay--Laos' National Costume takes MY NUMBER ONE spot in this out-of-this-world incredibly original costume depicting a regal Elephant, the national animal of Laos. The elephant represents prosperity and a symbol of strength for the Southeast Asian nation. Her national costume is a MAJOR presentation...

Elephant Queen--Miss Universe Laos National Costume, Miss Universe 2019 National Costume Presentation Show, Atlanta Georgia

First, Vichitta saunters onto the stage INSIDE the elephant contraption, then...opens the front, revealing herself, in a traditional Laotian pink silk embroidered dress doing a traditional bow. But kids, it's not over...she then moves to the side, whereby gets back into the elephant and opens its side, revealing a "Stop Fire. Save Amazon" sign with a lighted sequined backdrop (showing the burning Amazon). Needless to say, she received a standing ovation. No idea how she got that thing through A) Customs and B) In her Luggage but BRAVO!!!! She dropped the National Costume Mic!

2. Miss Universe PHILIPPINES Gazini Ganados--Gazini's costume is in my No. 2 spot for being so outstanding, so Haute Couture fabulous and incredibly stage impacting. Her silver design was inspired by the national bird, the Philippine Eagle. The amazing costume was designed by Filipino designer Cary Santiago, who also designed her gown. It featured hand-stitched silver fabric with laser-cut patterns. Her headdress paid homage to the eagle's feathered wings and in addition, the look had two divine silver eagles sitting on her arms. This was something out of a vintage Alexander McQueen show...or Met Gala red carpet. Another Bravo!

3. Miss Universe BRAZIL Julia Horta--Julia's national costume involved FUTBOL (soccer), naturally, the nation's favorite sport. But in addition, she was also representing Brazil's most famous female soccer player who goes by one name: Marta. The costume seemed simple enough: Julia came out with a soccer ball, knocking it around with her knees, finally tossing it out into the audience, then she made her way onto the front of the stage, revealing not just her bedazzled futbol uniform with exaggerated golden wings covering the entire stage...but then out of her shoulders came a white square-shaped fabric, which she unrolled, revealing (yes, another reveal!) a VERY BOLD "STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN" sign with blood-like painting. NO ONE in that audience expected this and I BOW DOWN to her for doing it! From a fun soccer look to END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: Yes Maam!

4. Miss Universe PUERTO RICO Madison Anderson--Madison stole the National Costume Show (besides Laos & Brazil!) when she came on stage with this INCREDIBLE costume depicting the National Symbol of Puerto Rico: The Flor de Maga, or Hibiscus. The costume was designed by Joshuan Aponte and also features the Golden Coqui, a small rare frog, native to the island. In case you are wondering where that golden frog is, look nowhere else but her torso chest plate! It's a stunning depiction of flora & fauna with outstanding stage appeal.

5. Miss Universe MALAYSIA Shweta Sekhon--Shweta's very original National Costume represents Peranakan Culture. Entitled "A Peranakan Indulgence", the heavily beaded costume comes with trays of traditional Malay sweets and delicacies--it's like she's the Malay Queen serving dessert! The costume was designed by Carven Ong and took 3 months to make and weighs over 60 pounds!

6. Miss Universe COSTA RICA Paola Chacon--Depicting the colorful Carreta Tipica (traditional cart) seen in Costa Rica, Paola also honored the artisanal work of Sarchi, Costa Rica. Her costume shows the multicolored prints shown in the carretas and the entire back of the gown is supposed to be one of those wheels seen in the carts.

7. Miss Universe HONDURAS Rosemary Arauz--Rosemary's costume is a "Tribute to Corn", a staple of food for her country. The costume was designed by Alonso Maximo and features a very high fashion-styled skirt in corn husks displayed in a high-low designed gown. The feathered headdress showcases a look of a Pre-Columbian Emperor. The five circles in the headdress simulate the five stars in the Honduran flag.

8. Miss Universe THAILAND Paweensouda "Fahsai" Drouin--Miss Universe Thailand's National Costume involved a stage presentation similar to some others in that she first came out--hidden under a huge mask. As she got to the end of the stage, she appeared in a short mini-dress in copper-clad aluminum wire arranged in a distinctly Thai pattern. The costume which was designed by Alongkorn Kongin was inspired by the "Ghost Festival". The over six-foot-tall mask...

Was made of recycled materials including plastic bags and...take-out food plastic forks (right photo above)

9. Miss Universe BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Bria Smith--Bria's very prolific costume is inspired by the National Flower of the British Virgin Islands, the Oleander. The pink flower is seen throughout the costume but especially as exaggerated petals framing her neck and at the bottom of her gown, bursting out of a carriage. The nude dress she is wearing is beaded with hundreds of sequins and is completed by a golden headdress. The entire look was very impressive and beautiful enough to make the No. 9 spot.

10. Miss Universe PERU Kelin Rivera--Kelin's National Costume is a work of Costume Art. period. When she came onto the stage, I gasped! It is inspired by several things: First, she came out covering her entire head, albeit only showing one eye, as an homage to the Tapada Limena, a unique mantle used by the Native Peruvian women to go anonymously out in public. The design of the gown itself is inspired by the Lord (or Christ) of Miracles, an image venerated in Lima Peru, painted by a slave, formerly of what is now Angola, who was brought to Peru. This costume needs to be in a museum ASAP!

11. Miss Universe BANGLADESH Shirin Akter Shela--Shirin's National Costume represents her country's culture and identity. The beautiful red Jamdani Sari is completed by a "hood" designed to pay homage to the iconic Bangladeshi Rickshaws. Finally, the jewelry imitates Bengali letters. I thought she looked elegant and I especially loved the mini rickshaw she carried; very original.

12. Miss Universe ECUADOR Christina Hidalgo--Christina's costume was inspired by a coastal town in Ecuador, Esmeralda. She first came out in a multi-tiered white folkloric off-the-shoulder dress with beautiful handsewn crystals and plastic paillettes. As she un-snapped her top, she unveiled a sexy sequined bodysuit/jumpsuit as well as a hand-painted mural lining the skirt. This was yet another "reveal" type of National Costume.  And it worked.

13. Miss Universe JAPAN Ako Kamo--Miss Universe Japan's costume is inspired by the Shisimai, the traditional Japanese Lion Dance. In the dance, the performers mimic the lion's movements in a lion costume, dancing with festival music. Ako did just that, coming out onto the stage, with a fabulous "fantasy lion" headdress, moving like one of those performers. She also donned an elegant green cape/coat, beautiful red kimono top with gold, red and black brocade obi, and black sating "jodhpur"-like blouson pants. The entire mini-performance was quite effective at bringing the crowd at happy attention.

14. Miss Universe MONGOLIA Gunzaya Bat-Erdene--The minute Miss Universe Mongolia stepped onto the stage in this, I thought I was witnessing Star Wars Queen Amidala COUTURE!!! This was even better than one of those costumes from the film! The gorgeous red and black gown was straight off a Haute Couture runway with its dramatic and architectural shape and structure. The horned headdress was EXQUISITE and perfectly dramatic.

15. Miss Universe EL SALVADOR Zuleika Soler--Zuleika paid tribute to Salvadorean artist Fernando Llort with this fantastic costume that featured a Mermaid-shaped hand-painted skirt with a petticoat underneath, a "flora and fauna" bra top and immense artisanal contraption attached to her back which she had to hold the entire time. Llort was known for his colorful art depicting life and culture in El Salvador. He passed away last year.

16. Miss Universe NETHERLANDS Sharon Pieksma--Sharon's National Costume, entitled "Lost In Trash", was a one-shoulder design showcasing what happens to plastic materials that end up in the water, polluting it. The see-through-like dress represented the clear sea while the ruffled multitiered overskirt, which she fanned out to display all the trash that ends up in the oceans in the inner lining. It was quite a beautiful way to display such a powerful message.

17. Miss Universe UKRAINE Anastasia Subbotta--Anastasia was another contestant displaying her passion for being "Eco-Conscious". The costume, designed by SVITLO, was entitled "Green Ukraine" and represents how a bird would see her country's terrain and land as it would fly over it. The design features 1000 pieces of fabric in different shades of green, has many feathers, sequins, and 3D lace and took 2 1/2 months to make.

18. Miss USA Chelsie Kryst--Chelsie's costume pays homage to Maya Angelou's "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" (the wings), "Rosie The Riveter" (the headband), the Statue of Liberty (the torch and crown) and "Lady Justice" (the scales she's holding). The one-shoulder outer dress was painted denim and underneath, there was a satin-and-feathers underskirt. It was designed and created by Martin Izquierdo of Izquierdo Studio in NYC, who has worked with Heidi Klum, Lady Gaga and Madonna.

19. Miss Universe BOLIVIA Fabiana Hurtado--Fabiana's costume, entitled "Amazonian Phoenix: The Rebirth of the Jungle", represents the rebirth of the Amazonian Jungle from the fires that have consumed it. It is a tribute to the Bolivian flora and fauna affected during the burning fires. The costume is a protest to the human beings who have abused the incredible jungles and forests around the world.

And lastly...

20. Miss Universe URUGUAY Fiona Tenuta: Another South American ends up in my Top 20 National Costume List...this time Miss Universe Uruguay. It pays tribute to the Uruguayan flag which features the blue and white stripes (here in sequins) and sun (back "wings"). I thought it looked impressive, very "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" and quite fabulous.

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