Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 17) — From peace amid wars and preservation of the planet, some candidates in the 72nd Miss Universe raised awareness of their advocacy through their national costumes
Aside from wearing dazzling outfits to represent their country and culture, the Miss Universe stage hosted candidates standing for a cause and ideals on current issues.
Here are some of the national costumes that caught the imagination of pageant enthusiasts.
Ukraine
Miss Ukraine Angelina Usanova donned a skyblue statement piece with a golden baby prop titled “Mother Protector.” The beauty queen said the costume represented the care of a mom to her children.
’10’:
In an instagram post, Angelina said that \”children do not start wars, but they are the ones who are unable to defend themselves.\”
\”Mothers all over Ukraine are begging and dreaming of a sky without missiles. They pray for the lives of their children, who are mercilessly taken away by the war,” she added.
The 26-year-old candidate said the blue fabric of the costume is a symbol of a sky without missiles, white symbolizes peace, and the blue and yellow represent the Ukraine flag.
Early in November, Ukraine expressed fear of a prolonged war with Russia while trying to keep hope in visualizing the country’s potential victory.
Netherlands
Transwoman queen Rikkie Valerie Kollé bloomed with pride as she walked the Miss Universe stage with a national costume representing both her country and her individuality.
’24’:
Kollé wore a piece designed as the famous Dutch tulip which opens to a floral cocktail dress with a distinct rainbow hue, reflecting the colors of the Pride flag.
The queen introduced the national costume as an outfit that also “ reflects her personal story.”
“In the Netherlands a bunch of mixed colored tulips represents pure beauty. This is also reflected in my personal story,” she said.
“The enthusiastic orange tulip has evolved into the pure beauty that I felt inside to be a woman and to be who I want to be and have always been,” Kollé added.
Kollé also made history as the first transwoman to represent the Netherlands in Miss Universe.
Greece
Marielia Zaloumi from Greece took to the international stage her call to “take back the history” of her country.
Zaloumi’s costume was a rendition of the Greek Goddess of War Aphrodite with a banner that had “Take our history back” written in front and “Take me home” in bold at the back.
’42’:
The statement was a stand in the deep-rooted cultural row between her country and the British Museum’s claim on the historic Parthenon marbles.
The Greeks have long contended that the sculptures in the British Museum were violently detached from the 5th-century B.C. temple in Athens with the aid of marble saws in the full knowledge of Elgin, then Britain’s ambassador to the Ottoman empire.
Zaloumi’s costume challenged the notion that the pieces in the British Museum were only “removed from rubble,” as they claimed.
Egypt
Miss Egypt Mohra Tantawy advocated for the preservation of the iconic Nile river amid the rising pollution.
’56’:
Tantawy wore an all black outfit with a “LIFE NILE” written in bold at the back of the cape to show how she mourns the “tainted” river, calling for the public’s efforts to stop the pollution.
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa that flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The body of water is seen to have plenty of minerals which explains the history of healthy crops which grew along its riverbanks.
Nepal
Nepal’s Jane Dipika Garrett again called the attention of pageant fans as she strutted the Miss Universe stage with a costume that stood for peace.
’66’:
Her costume was an elegant dark gown with a headpiece portraying smoke from missiles. She held a cage with a prop dove inside which she pretended to set free on stage.
According to the pageant hosts, Miss Nepal’s outfit represented her call for peace amid the wars.
Garrett first trended on social media early in the preliminary competition as she boldly displayed her plus-size curves in the swimsuit and evening gown events.
READ: Defying standards: Transwomen, mother, plus-size candidates grace Miss Universe stage
For the Philippines, Michelle Marquez Dee paraded the pageant stage with an airplane themed national costume as a nod to her military reservist training, and the “Love the Philippines” tourism campaign displayed at the back of the plane’s wings.
