something beyond crowns and gowns took centre stage: the national costume parade. Here, amid all the glitz, fashion-savvy viewers found a delicious blend of cultural expression, runway theatrics and pure storytelling. In this blog, we walk through some of the most unforgettable national costumes from Miss Universe 2025, highlighting how each look fused identity, style, and a little bit of theatrical magic.

The Power of Costume in Pageantry

A national costume isn’t just a sparkly outfit. It’s heritage given form. It’s design interpreting history. And in 2025, the costumes delivered not only visuals but narrative: birds that represent national spirits, mythological figures conjured through feathers and metal, and eco-messages encoded in fabric and form. As one article put it, the parade “showcased an impressive array of culturally rich and artistically elaborate ensembles.” 

Stand-Out Looks Worth a Closer Look

Here are some pieces that turned heads and stirred conversation:

Argentina

A golden bodysuit, knee-high boots and vivid feather-work backpiece honouring singer-songwriter Atahualpa Yupanqui. The costume captured imaginative heritage and performance spectacle. 

Bonaire 

With a shimmering blue bodysuit, coral-coloured backpiece and octopus motif, this look brought marine conservation into high-fashion pageantry in one dazzling visual statement. 

Brazil

Honourable, religious-icon inspired design referencing Nossa Senhora Aparecida, dressed in navy and gold, symbolising faith, culture and craftsmanship. 

South Korea

A modern twist on the hanbok, with mini-skirt, knee-high boots, florals and a nod to K-pop storytelling. It was culture turned couture, clean and bold at once.

The national costume round of Miss Universe 2025 is more than just pageantry—it’s a runway of culture, design and statement. For the Hautestyle.io reader, it offers a rare lens into how fashion can be both art and identity, spectacle and meaning.  As we move forward in style, these costumes remind us: bold dressing doesn’t mean loud—it means intentional.