36 Most Amazingly Elaborate Miss Universe Costumes

    It's the pageant that puts every other pageant ever to serious shame. Victoria's Secret Fashion Show WHO?

    Amy Odell
    by Amy Odell

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. Miss Venezuala — Best "Chocolate Rave"

    Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP / AP

    This is amazing.

    2. Miss Panama — Best Use of Christmas Colors

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    3. Miss Bolivia — Best Use of Christmas Colors and Yellow

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    If lions had cat toys, they'd look like these sparkly pepper vine things.

    4. Miss Slovak Republic — Least Shiny

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    At an event like this, shunning all diamonds, crystals, and sequins is truly radical. Bold move indeed.

    5. Miss South Africa — Best Way Not to Lose a Shoe

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    Wear your asymmetrical body stocking OVER it. Then proceed to place concentration on attractive carriage of scepter.

    6. Miss Switzerland — Best "Marching Band Festive"

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    This belongs in a Beyoncé video.

    7. Miss Poland — Most Glam Cheese Cloth Dress

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    8. Miss Philippines — Most Pinterest-Appropriate Veil

    Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP / AP

    9. Miss Puerto Rico — Best Disco Loin Cloth

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    10. Miss Indonesia — Most Spectacular Use of Bird Imagery

    Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP / AP

    Just great.

    11. Miss Norway — Most Jealous of Everyone Who Wore a Cape

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    Now is not the time to fade into the background, Norway! This is Miss Universe, not every other day of the year.

    12. Miss Ecuador — Best "Rain Forest Dream"

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    13. Miss Finland — Best Ice Dancer/Princess Look

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    14. Miss Honduras — Best Coral Reef Worn Like a Backpack

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    15. Miss France — Most DIY-Looking Eveningwear

    Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP / AP

    Step it up, France!

    16. Miss China — Best Giant Tassels

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    Also, impressively pretty use of toile.

    17. Miss Cyprus — Best Use of Quadruple-ply Toilet Paper

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    18. Miss Netherlands — Best Way to Wear Wooden Shoes Without Actually Wearing Wooden Shoes

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    Look closely at her catsuit and you'll notice those aren't blue butterflies, they're SHOES! Clever.

    19. Miss Mauritius — Fanciest Fascinator-Free Look

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    20. Miss Nicaragua — Most Intense Cape

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    I hope she did not flap her arms and induce seizures.

    21. Miss Lebanon — Most Cleverly Engineered Cape

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    Cape + sleeves = not your ordinary cape. Note to self: If ever in Miss Universe Pageant, do not forget to pack huge cape.

    22. Miss Hungary — Best Concentric Paper Towels

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    23. Miss Nigeria — Smartest Shoe Strategy

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    You know she was laughing at all the other contestants in those torture chambers they call "platform pumps."

    24. Miss Paraguay — Best Crown

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    What Kate Middleton wishes she got married in.

    25. Miss Namibia — Most Hipster Head Accessory

    Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP / AP

    Hipsters: try to resist adding a feathered hat to your Xmas wish lists. Have you really gotten enough mileage out of your ironic turban yet?

    26. Miss Sri Lanka — Most Intense Gold Sparkles

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    27. Miss St. Lucia — Most Random Parasol

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    But also, what a great-looking umbrella.

    28. Miss Korea — Best Hair

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    Gwen Stefani, your buns have nothing on these.

    29. Miss Jamaica — Best Full-Feathered Bikini

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    30. Miss Aruba — Most Confusing Use of Ice Queen Imagery

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    Unless this is supposed to be indicative of Aruba's white sand, but it's still puzzling.

    31. Miss Great Britain — Worst Use of Flag Imagery

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    Why did she not go with something royal wedding-inspired? A lace sleeved unitard or cat suit — something other than this.

    32. Miss Spain — Best Bra Top

    Also, great flamenco-inspired skirt.

    33. Miss Mexico — Most Elaborate Costume

    The hours it took to make this, I can't even imagine.

    34. Miss Canada — Best Maple Leaf Sash

    35. Miss Angola — Best Mom Imagery

    36. Miss Bahamas — Best On-Trend Leather Shorts

    The Miss Universe Pageant airs Thursday at 8 PM on NBC.