Glitters, feathers, and more! All 80 gorgeous National Costumes at the 70th Miss Universe • PhilSTAR Life

The National Costume show of the Miss Universe pageant is one of the most anticipated events in the entire competition any year, and this edition’s show, held in Eilat, Israel on Saturday, Dec. 11 (Philippine time) is no different.

It seems the contestants this time are a bit more subdued with their outfit choices (in the context of the National Costume show). No contestant, for instance, sashayed the pageant stage while dressed as a traditional Malay house or as a hockey game scoreboard. Instead, we have the likes of the USA's appearance as the trophy from the Golden Globe Awards; not exactly the most American of iconographies, but the National Costume isn't really just about showing off actual national costumes. Canada's Mountie-inspired costume is simple but distinctly Canadian.

Of course, that does not mean the Miss Universe girls did not bring the spectacle this year. Peru's ode to the Misti Volcano is elegant and simply stunning, while the Philippines' Bakunawa-inspired costume is easily one of the country's best showing in the National Costume competition (if not the best, according to fans on social media).

There are, of course, contestants who used the National Costume show to convey advocacy—such as Ireland's plea for fair pay for nursing and Finland's "Let's Save Our Planet" message. And what's the show without feathers, wings, and bodysuits?

Here are the National Costumes of the 80 contestants of the 70th Miss Universe pageant. - (Chuck Smith)

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