SASHES AND TIARAS.....Miss Universe 2015 National Costumes Sneak Peak!

Universal Costumes: Collage of Miss Universe 2015 National Costumes (Clockwise from top: Vietnam, Thailand [middle], Curacao, Great Britain, Panama)--Miss Universe 2015 Beauty Pageant Las Vegas USA

December 20th is the date for the Finals of the 64th Annual Miss Universe Beauty Pageant. After WME/IMG took the helm from Donald Trump (Thank goodness!), this will be the first Miss Universe contest under the William Morris Entertainment and International Management Group global talent, sports, acting, theater, model agency. And the first time it will be televised by Fox.

Miss Universe 2014 Colombia's Paulina Vega and the 80 contestants vying for "Miss Universe 2015"--Las Vegas

The pageant will be held in The Axis at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Las Vegas. Eighty contestants from all over the world will compete for the coveted title. The contestants have been in Las Vegas since December 1st taking part in all the exciting activities leading up to the Finals later this month. The very popular "National Costume" show isn't until December 16th but that doesn't prevent me from showing you a sneak peak of some of the contestants' costumes that I found researching the web...

Asia--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miss Myanmar May Thaw: Love this golden sequined costume depicting a traditional look from her native Myanmar. It's very "Indigenous Couture"; down to her Alexander McQueen-like sequined pumps!

Miss Malaysia Vanessa Tevi: I also love the intricate folding and  draping in this silk jacquard two piece costume featuring a bustier bra-top and side-slit skirt. The gold leaf accents do really blend well and end up fabulously on that amazing headdress.

Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach: I found this photo on the web of what is supposed to be the National Costume to be worn by Miss Philippines Universe Pia Wurtzbach. If it is true, it sure is super-fabulous! Love the traditional Filipina Butterfly sleeves (I call them the "Imelda" sleeves, thank you very much!), an the very couture-worthy straw over-skirt...wow. This is a "national costume" that could easily be in a Paris Haute Couture runway show.

Miss Singapore Lisa White: Local Singapore Couturier Frederick Lee designed this red costume, paying tribute to the Golden Jubilee as well as an homage to the Singapore Botanic Gardens which this year became the nation's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. A total of 50 orchids in varying sizes adorn the costume. The costume cost $6,000 and took over 200 hours to make.

Miss Thailand Aniporn Chalermburanawong: Aniporn chose to wear a costume inspired by--what else--the iconic Tuk Tuk , the very famous Thai mode of transportation. The unique costume was designed and created by cultural scholar Hirankrit Paipibulkul. The dress was made of chromium and decorated with real headlights that "Nat" can flash at her other 79 competitors. #LoveHer and #LoveThisCostume

Miss Vietnam Huong Pham: The stunning (and one of the favorites to take the "Miss Universe 2015" crown) Huong is wearing this very luxe Ao Dai--traditional Vietnamese ensemble--as her national costume. The creation was designed by Thuan Viet and features ivory and golden yellow silk, gold sequin details and a stupendous gold crown headdress.

Europe-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miss Denmark Cecilie Willemberg: The Copenhagen native is wearing a white swan costume featuring a large swan headdress and wings plus a feathered and tulle skirt. It's very "Victoria's Secret" Runway Show fab.

Miss Great Britain Narissara France: Narissara went with the British flag and fab "Show Girl" feathers. She looks quite sexy.

Latin America and Caribbean-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miss Argentina Claudia Barrionuevo: Claudia went with a more "Carnival" look with her "Miss Universe 2015" Argentina national costume.

Miss Bahamas Toria Nichole: The statuesque Toria (she's 6' 1" !) is wearing a fish-inspired costume, created from nude illusion (the bodysuit) and multicolored sequins. This is one of the sexiest flying fish I have ever seen!

Miss Bolivia Romina Rocamonje: This photo is a sneak peak of what Romina will be wearing. The costume is white and features silver sequins and a large feathered shoulder piece a la "Victoria's Secret Runway Show". What do you guys think?

Miss Cayman Islands Tonie Chisholm: Caribeean beauty queen, Tonie Chisholm of the Cayman Islands, understandably went with a coral/sea-inspired costume. The look has a red sequined bodysuit and over-sized "coral" back over-skirt and neck/shoulder piece.

Miss Costa Rica Brenda Castro: Brenda is wearing a fun Costa Rican national costume interpretation featuring a crop top, full mini skirt, headdress crown and flora-and-fauna "wings". Oh and then there's her fruit "basket".

Miss Curacao Kanisha Sluis: I absolutely LOVE this costume on "Miss Universe Curacao". The colors, the sequined body suit, the feathers...it truly is a celebration of everything about Curacao. The design is a tribute to the local queen of art, a former Miss Curacao (1966) & Miss Amity at Miss Universe 1967,  Elizabeth "Nena" Sanchez (photo above). The main subjects of Nena's paintings are typical native cottages, tropical flowers, windows, exuberant sea views and blue goddesses.

Miss Guatemala Jeimmy Aburto: Jeimmy went with the Pre-Columbian costume theme with her national costume, as see above. I think it's pretty great. I just always wonder: who is paying for the EXTRA baggage fees...when trying to transport something like this?

Miss Mexico Wendy Esparza: Wendy is wearing a Native/Indigenous costume representing a Diva Empress entitled "XOCHIQUETZAL". It was designed by Eduardo Estrada.

Miss Panama Gladys Brandao Amaya: Gladys wears a Pre-Columbian costume featuring a HUGE red feathered back-piece, heavily sequined gold and multi-jeweled headdress and matching top and skirt piece. This surely can be in contention for Most Elaborate National Costume/Miss Universe 2015.

Miss Paraguay Myriam Arevalos: Myrianm is wearing a costume depicting the "Garra Guarani" or "Guarani Claw". It was designed by Alfredo Gaona and features over 4,500 crystals

**Stay Tuned for more "Miss Universe 2015" Blogs...