2010 Miss Universe national costumes
August 18, 2010 1:46 PM   Subscribe

2010 Miss Universe national costumes. "Because there is nothing more cracktastic than the national costumes portion of the Miss Universe Pageant. It makes competitive figure skating costumes look understated and minimalist."
posted by arielmeadow (99 comments total) 27 users marked this as a favorite
 
I thought we were trying to cut down on the Lady Gaga FPPs.


On a related note, these are fucking amazing
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:48 PM on August 18, 2010


I simply must have one of those Kazakh hats.
posted by mannequito at 1:51 PM on August 18, 2010


Some of these are really awesome. Australia, Mexico, Peru, Japan. They're like "Hey, we can celebrate our heritage and be totally couture too."

And then America. "It's like a gold corset/swimsuit. But with WINGS! Like an eagle! And STARS! Yeah! Go America!"

It's like the options available for women when they're looking for halloween costumes: sexy kitten, sexy nurse, sexy gangster, sexy US currency.
posted by specialagentwebb at 1:54 PM on August 18, 2010 [5 favorites]


Hey if Miss Switzerland gets a sword and shield, why isn't Miss USA in a bandolero bikini wielding an M-16?
posted by signalnine at 1:55 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


I think their commentary was pretty spot on.

I am amazed at the hubris of our U.S. costumers. Meanwhile, I love the one for Switzerland--the U.S. Imperial Angel/Eagle should face off against Lady Helvetica.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:55 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


It's like the options available for women when they're looking for halloween costumes: sexy kitten, sexy nurse, sexy gangster, sexy US currency.

AND FROG.
posted by signalnine at 1:56 PM on August 18, 2010 [4 favorites]


With each one, I was more and more incredulous, until I hit Nigeria, which is actually tasteful and beautiful.
posted by ocherdraco at 1:58 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


signalnine: "AND FROG. "

Slight derail, but I was at a party store a few weeks ago, and they had a Sexy Freddy Krueger costume. No lie. WTF.

posted by specialagentwebb at 2:01 PM on August 18, 2010


Miss Canada Elena Semikina

J'ADORE. Right after the competition, she's going to seduce and then attempt to kill James Bond.


I LOLed at that one.
posted by Halloween Jack at 2:01 PM on August 18, 2010 [3 favorites]


Admiral Haddock: I am amazed at the hubris of our U.S. costumers.

The hubris of America -- like the stuff on Miss Kazakhstan's head -- knows no bounds.

Speaking of, any idea what the individual plumage on Miss Kazakhstan's headdress is? It looks like it might be other country's flags, but this could just be my American-centric ignorance (which also unfortunately sometimes knows no bounds)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:01 PM on August 18, 2010


Po-land-keball! Go!
posted by darksasami at 2:03 PM on August 18, 2010


Wow. The USA one does not disappoint.

Here is part 2

The France one is cute except they stuck a mini Eiffel tower on the beret.
posted by smackfu at 2:03 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


Hillarious.
posted by jeffamaphone at 2:03 PM on August 18, 2010


Alright, having gone through all of them, I'm gonna say my top three were Kazakhstan, Ghana and Venezuela.

On the other end of the spectrum ... wtf USA, Switzerland and Zambia?
posted by mannequito at 2:03 PM on August 18, 2010


It looks like it might be other country's flags

I definitely see Korea and Switzerland.
posted by smackfu at 2:03 PM on August 18, 2010


I wonder if Miss USA's costume designer is a comic book fan?
posted by Fleebnork at 2:04 PM on August 18, 2010


Beefeaters are never sexy, she should have gone with a nice clog dancer affair.
posted by shinybaum at 2:06 PM on August 18, 2010


Ms. Peru is going to get neck spasms if she insists on hats of that size.
posted by Gin and Comics at 2:09 PM on August 18, 2010


Based on the evidence of Miss Venezuela's outfit, her native land is characterized by its abundant lace doilies, mirrors and insanity.
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:10 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


Miss Albania looks like the sexy Halloween version of an avenging angel of death in a hitherto unknown Central European version of the Grand Guignol.

In other words, AWESOME.
posted by scody at 2:13 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


Miss Albania looks like Miss USA's evil twin.
posted by gamera at 2:14 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


I have a serious question. I don't think there are more than two contestants that don't have dark hair. This must be more than coincidence. Was it a requirement? A fashion trend? A suggestion? Are dark haired candidates historically more likely to win?
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 2:15 PM on August 18, 2010


I still think nothing's going to measure up to 2009 Miss Japan's cyberpunk hooker haute-couture get up. The look so extreme the made her edit the outfit. In fact, I can't even link to it because I can't do a search for this thing at work without possibly getting fired.
posted by kkokkodalk at 2:16 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


If they want to be really ostentatious, these other countries are going to have to try harder to get up to USA standards. Think accessories, ladies!

Miss Germany, pick up that stein and a big hot pretzel!

Miss Guatemala, let me find you a rooster. Now where did I put that sacrificial knife again?

/hamburger
posted by misha at 2:17 PM on August 18, 2010


Wow, who knew women could dress so fierce?
posted by Nelson at 2:18 PM on August 18, 2010


Miss India's dress is stunning. And Nigeria. Most of the others are totally bonkers.
posted by jnrussell at 2:18 PM on August 18, 2010


Miss Guatemala has skipped the competition and gone straight to declaring herself a goddess.

That's where I LOLed

Also I want to marry Uruguay Jones or at least be her side-kick.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:19 PM on August 18, 2010




Oh, Miss Great Britain, what the hell are you wearing? Seriously, you'd have looked sexier if you'd come dressed as a Routemaster.

Miss Ireland was beautiful and appeals to the geek in me that refuses to play D&D but can't help thinking that elven looks is rather cute.

But oh, how I lolled at Miss Banana... who designs these things?
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 2:22 PM on August 18, 2010


Don't miss the second set!
posted by heresiarch at 2:23 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


Superhero costume designers take note.
posted by The Whelk at 2:26 PM on August 18, 2010


Normally Miss GB normally wimps out and just goes for something smart in red while and blue but they really pushed the boat out with the comedy kinky stripper Beefeater outfit. Gawd bless you dear, and facking saluting yah!
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:27 PM on August 18, 2010


Miss Switzerland was the first one that made me laugh out loud. The giant shield and sword are just so improbably weird and disproportionately huge, even among the 50s silver Christmas tree hats and the James Bond villains.
posted by MegoSteve at 2:28 PM on August 18, 2010


I don't think there are more than two contestants that don't have dark hair.

I checked the website that has everyone, and the only blondes are the contestants from: Sweden, Switzerland, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Netherlands, Finland, and Canada. That's 6 out of 83. Crazy low.

I did find that Miss Universe 2004 was "the first blonde haired woman to win the title since Angela Visser of the Netherlands in 1989." So it seems like a long-term trend, that may have become a self-enforcing guideline. If you don't put blondes in, they don't win, and if they don't tend to win, you don't pick a blonde.
posted by smackfu at 2:28 PM on August 18, 2010


... when I say 'normally' I mean when I was a kid and they used to have Miss World on the telly every year.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:30 PM on August 18, 2010


Isn't Miss Canada wearing a couple of baby seals? Where's the club?
posted by Skeptic at 2:38 PM on August 18, 2010


smackfu: I don't think there are more than two contestants that don't have dark hair.

I checked the website that has everyone, and the only blondes are the contestants from: Sweden, Switzerland, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Netherlands, Finland, and Canada. That's 6 out of 83. Crazy low.


Given the ratio of blondes to non-blondes in the world, is this really that bizarre of a ratio?

(I have no idea what the real numbers would be; I'm actually curious.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:39 PM on August 18, 2010


I think the rules for judging a pageant outfit should be "Can you image this outfit being worn by any other person in any other context other than a Miss Universe contest?"

If the answer is No you get one point.
posted by The Whelk at 2:40 PM on August 18, 2010


Apparently Jamaica has a lot of butterflies. Sexy, sexy butterflies.
posted by Talanvor at 2:40 PM on August 18, 2010


Natural blondes make up only 2% of the population, according to wiki answers and yahoo answers.
posted by misha at 2:45 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


is there some huge connection between Belgium and tennis that I'm missing?

Justine Henin. Kim Clijsters.
posted by Skeptic at 2:48 PM on August 18, 2010


I have a serious question. I don't think there are more than two contestants that don't have dark hair. This must be more than coincidence. Was it a requirement? A fashion trend? A suggestion? Are dark haired candidates historically more likely to win?

I did find that Miss Universe 2004 was "the first blonde haired woman to win the title since Angela Visser of the Netherlands in 1989." So it seems like a long-term trend, that may have become a self-enforcing guideline. If you don't put blondes in, they don't win, and if they don't tend to win, you don't pick a blonde.

The vast majority of people in the world have dark hair.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 2:52 PM on August 18, 2010


Apparently Jamaica has a lot of butterflies. Sexy, sexy butterflies.
I think that's supposed to be a bird. Jamaica's national bird is a streamer tail humming bird
posted by strawdog at 2:59 PM on August 18, 2010


I see Miss Albania and Miss USA taking flight and shooting fabulous-rays at each other.
posted by adamrice at 3:01 PM on August 18, 2010


She looks like a wedding invitation from a bride with ADHD. Ok, that's when I LOLed inhaled my sammich and spent the next ten minutes on the floor coughing.

When I got back up after I had collected myself I was greeted with Miss Serbia wants you to check out her basket.

I'll never survive a third part.
posted by dabitch at 3:07 PM on August 18, 2010 [3 favorites]


Miss Italy looks like the kind of girl that Obelix would fall for, across the Romano-Gallic divide. Never to be.
posted by biffa at 3:11 PM on August 18, 2010 [2 favorites]


I found the commentary right on, too. All of the women themselves are lovely, of course. Some of the dresses are just whack, but that's kind of fun, anything with a printed photo on it aside (awful). The French one was sad, as the Eifel tower just seemed a last-second tack-on--have the courage of your convictions!

Am I the only person sexually attracted to women who finds "stripper shoes" a big turn-off? I'm curious how tall some of these women are in those giant heels--models tend to be tall, and some of them must be closing in on six-and-a-half-feet tall in those shoes.
posted by maxwelton at 3:13 PM on August 18, 2010


Superhero costume designers take note.
posted by The Whelk at 2:26 PM on August 18 [+] [!]


Miss Venezuala's costume is pure supervillianess! And she's a perfect foil for Miss USA, what with the big golden wings & stars and all. It's like a splash page from GWB's boozy fantasies circa 2007.
posted by biddeford at 3:23 PM on August 18, 2010


A few years ago I ran across a similar Miss Universe gallery at work, the end result of which was the whole office spending a whole day on the Miss Universe website looking at the weird costumes and dresses.

The office had a Dutch guy who made frequent trips to Israel, and every time he was there he ended up coming back to the US with a woman who he referred to as his "vife" despite no legal ceremonies having occured (as far as any of us could tell), and each new vife was always gone from his life within a few months in any case. Knowing this, I was expecting him to flip out over Miss Israel, but he didn't.

When Miss Lebanon came around, though, he blurted out, "I vill go to Lebanon! She vill think I am a rich American and marry me, because her home is a bomb crater. Look at her eyes, she is so sad. She needs the tender love of Alex."

Duly, I examined this Miss Lebanon's eyes this year, but I think they're saying, "Why am I wearing this damned wimple?" more than anything about tender Dutch love.
posted by Copronymus at 3:27 PM on August 18, 2010 [4 favorites]


Miss Norway's dress is drop-dead amazing. I'd wear that in an instant. (I'll take a pass on the tiara, though.)
posted by punchdrunkhistory at 3:38 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


I think that's supposed to be a bird. Jamaica's national bird is a streamer tail humming bird

Are you sure? I see antenna and everything.
posted by Talanvor at 3:40 PM on August 18, 2010


I don't know if I watched too much She-Ra at a formative age or something, but Colombia is doing something peculiar to my inner workings.
posted by KathrynT at 3:43 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


Slight derail, but I was at a party store a few weeks ago, and they had a Sexy Freddy Krueger costume. No lie. WTF.

This costume? There really aren't a lot of halloween costumes you can't append sexy to and get a version of. I was actually a little surprised I couldn't find a sexy frog costume. So you'll have to settle for a sexy turtle.

(I really, honestly was surprised there wasn't at least a sexy kermit costume.)
posted by [insert clever name here] at 4:03 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


I love Miss Uruguay the most. She looks like she's going to ride a horse home after the ceremonies.

Ans Miss Ukraine shouldn't run into Miss Kosovo's hat - it looks like it'll eat her dress before the evening is up.
posted by spinifex23 at 4:18 PM on August 18, 2010


I can't believe that everyone is ignoring the rampant Milky Way-centrism of this so-called Miss Universe pageant.
posted by Joe Beese at 4:23 PM on August 18, 2010 [2 favorites]


From the They Should Have category:

Miss Canada should have been dressed as a Sexy NHL Player. That, or they should have given her a Sexy Tim Horton's Uniform.

Miss Japan clearly ought to have been wearing a (sexy) uniform from Space Cruiser Yamato. That or been dressed as a Sexy Eva.

Am I the only person sexually attracted to women who finds "stripper shoes" a big turn-off?

Stripper shoes, along with "who-farted" sexyface, are powerful anti-erectiles.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:25 PM on August 18, 2010


Thanks for posting, arielmeadow.

(I'm now slightly less ashamed of 'our' ugg boots with HEELS!)
posted by malibustacey9999 at 4:27 PM on August 18, 2010


s there some huge connection between Belgium and tennis that I'm missing?

Belgium's theme for next year's dress should be french fries in mayonnaise.
posted by MegoSteve at 4:36 PM on August 18, 2010


Miss Venezuala's costume is pure supervillianess! And she's a perfect foil for Miss USA, what with the big golden wings & stars and all. It's like a splash page from GWB's boozy fantasies circa 2007.

Wonder Woman.
posted by Fleebnork at 4:38 PM on August 18, 2010


Next year Belgium should enter two women who spend the whole event trying to ignore each other.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 5:02 PM on August 18, 2010 [10 favorites]


If that's the new Canadian national costume, I picked the wrong time to leave the country.
posted by GuyZero at 5:14 PM on August 18, 2010


Shouldn't Miss Curacao be blue?
posted by Dr. Zira at 5:48 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


Man, looking through the second set, all I could think of was the Hunger Games books, and I kept imagining that after this they went into an arena and tore each other apart.
posted by ocherdraco at 5:59 PM on August 18, 2010 [3 favorites]


Miss Ukraine looks like she's barely concealing her feelings toward the person who made her wear a haystack while all the other girls got wings and headdresses and swords.
posted by corey flood at 6:08 PM on August 18, 2010


Some of these look like a Project Runway "unconventional materials" challenge gone horribly, horribly wrong.
My husband actually had to explain Miss Venezuela to me.
posted by Dr. Zira at 6:13 PM on August 18, 2010


Anyone who's ever seen the annual Mummers Parade on New Years in Philly will recognize Miss Netherlands as pretty ordinary stuff.
posted by Tomorrowful at 6:34 PM on August 18, 2010


I could use some of that explaining myself, Dr. Zira. Are Venezuela's chief exports straight-razors and macramé?
posted by rifflesby at 6:43 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


ROU_Xenophobe: "From the They Should Have category:

Miss Canada should have been dressed as a Sexy NHL Player. That, or they should have given her a Sexy Tim Horton's Uniform.
"

You mean Tim Hortons. I know it's weird, but there's no apostrophe.
posted by bwg at 6:46 PM on August 18, 2010


yea, could you get your husband to explain Miss Venezuela to us too?
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 6:46 PM on August 18, 2010


yea, could you get your husband to explain Miss Venezuela to us too?

It's very simple: Miss Venezuela is from the future. The year 2314, to be precise. She's actually the daughter of the President of the Federated States of the Greater Americas, and is wearing a very conservative ambassadorial uniform.
posted by Tomorrowful at 6:49 PM on August 18, 2010 [2 favorites]


The 2009 Miss Universe is just as great - I can't find a version with all the images on one page with snarky commentary, but let's just say that Panama's theme is still "wild animal attack!". Ireland looks like she just woke up from a rough St. Patrick's day...
posted by fermezporte at 6:51 PM on August 18, 2010


Ms. Venezuela looks like the delegate from Gaga 9.

This is not a bad thing.
posted by The Whelk at 7:00 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


Oh dear. Is Miss Ireland wearing the pot o' gold at the end o' the proverbial rainbow as a bikini bottom? "They're always after me lucky cooch!"
posted by scody at 7:01 PM on August 18, 2010 [4 favorites]


ocherdraco, both my gf and I had the exact same reaction. Of course, this could be related to the fact that Mockingjay is coming out in a week or so and I have been following the YA Fantasy Showdown all day today.

Nonetheless, it is clear that Miss USA is a Career Tribute, and I hope she gets taken down by one of the plucky upstarts like Miss Zambia, whose District is apparently so poor they could not afford enough cloth for a top.
posted by kyrademon at 7:17 PM on August 18, 2010 [2 favorites]


So fantastic. Yay best of the web! With wings and sword and in a bikini!
posted by rtha at 9:22 PM on August 18, 2010


Seriously all I can think of.
posted by oinopaponton at 10:34 PM on August 18, 2010


My personal favourite from last year
posted by KokuRyu at 11:22 PM on August 18, 2010


oooh, now I'm looking through lasy year's gallery, and this one, well, just look at it
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 11:34 PM on August 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


You're all missing the deal with the Jamaican entry. The woman is merely a host, the gigantic insectoid creature clamped to her back is the Miss Universe entrant from planet Jamaica, Vega 6.
posted by terpsichoria at 11:58 PM on August 18, 2010


I can't believe I'm saying this but I think a lot of people are misunderstanding the Miss USA outfit.

It's obviously an interpretation of the Presidential Seal of the United States. The obverse of the Great Seal? It's what is on your passport if you're American?

Those are eagle wings, not angel wings. That crap above her head is supposed to be thirteen mullets argent. Uh that would be silver stars. I assume it says "E pluribus unum" on the scroll. She should be surrounded by 50 stars and not 14 but I grudgingly suppose some consideration must be given to practicality when one is wearing a shiny gold corset, giant eagle wings, stripper shoes, and hanging stars off oneself. She's got an olive branch in her right hand and an arrow in her left. Should be 13 arrows but again she's being a lazy bum.

Is it the most tasteful outfit? Well, no. But it's easily one of the most relevant of the costumes. So I don't think it's fair to call it hubristic or weird or whatever.

Or she could have just put on a slutty dress like Canada. That's another way to go.
posted by Justinian at 12:45 AM on August 19, 2010 [1 favorite]


I love the commentary. And like, the commentator, I think that Norway and India are the only ones that fall into the "tasteful and appropriate" category. Miss Norway's dress, I'd be happy to wear.
posted by bardophile at 1:54 AM on August 19, 2010


Miss Sri Lanka is also tasteful, lovely, and appropriate, but seems to be missing from these posts. I found her and a couple of other MIA included at ONTD.
posted by taz at 2:49 AM on August 19, 2010


That's another way to go.

There is only one true path.
posted by maxwelton at 3:40 AM on August 19, 2010


If the costumes are supposed to make them look like patriotic superheroes (which I think they should!), then America wins. It's awesome. Venezuele is like the Ultimate Marvel version of the USA, though.
posted by Harry at 6:28 AM on August 19, 2010 [1 favorite]


Justinian: "Is it the most tasteful outfit? Well, no. But it's easily one of the most relevant of the costumes. So I don't think it's fair to call it hubristic or weird or whatever.

Or she could have just put on a slutty dress like Canada. That's another way to go.
"

We caught that (hence "sexy US currency"). It's still amusing that she's the only contestant from the first part to be wearing a gold swimsuit. Actually, I've moved past that and am now more amused by part 2's Aruba, Croatia, etc, who are just like "Ehh... bikini. Sure, that'll work".

Also, it's possible to be relevant without dressing up like an anthropomorphic Presidential Seal. See: Nigeria, Mexico, Guatemala, etc.
posted by specialagentwebb at 6:45 AM on August 19, 2010


I'm fairly certain that this is not last year's Miss Venezuela, but is in fact Eliza Doolittle.
posted by ocherdraco at 7:09 AM on August 19, 2010


bardophile, Miss Ghana is class all the way, too. So, out of the entire gallery, 3 are actually tasteful.

But, man, I do love some of these train wrecks! You could pop some Grace Jones stills in here, and no one would notice.
posted by QIbHom at 7:51 AM on August 19, 2010


Natural blondes make up only 2% of the population

And what part of Miss Universe do you think has anything to do with "natural?"
posted by rtimmel at 8:07 AM on August 19, 2010




I love the commentary. And like, the commentator, I think that Norway and India are the only ones that fall into the "tasteful and appropriate" category. Miss Norway's dress, I'd be happy to wear.

Apparently not Miss India's Dress


Yeah, I was a tad surprised that Ms India's traditional costume didn't involve some variation of a gagra-choli or a sari, but this works for me; the dress is clearly inspired by a peacock, and I love the explanation given (from the HT article):

The peacock feathers make up the pallu that spreads open when she does the Namaste.

That's quite neat actually.

Miss Sri Lanka is also tasteful, lovely, and appropriate

Nice too!
posted by the cydonian at 10:14 AM on August 19, 2010


This is the only time in my entire life I have been remotely interested in the Miss Universe Pageant.

As other commenters have noted, they look like superheroes from an alternate (drug-induced?) reality. SO AWESOME.

A wistful part of me wishes we could all dress like this everyday. Like, standing in line at the ATM, doing laundry, going to work...
posted by The ____ of Justice at 10:41 AM on August 19, 2010


Does Miss Spain's costume and pose create an optical illusion for anyone else that looks like she's dislocated her legs horribly? Because I was really concerned for a few moments.
posted by ilana at 11:06 AM on August 19, 2010


A wistful part of me wishes we could all dress like this everyday.

me too!! so much!!!!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:15 PM on August 19, 2010


Also, it's possible to be relevant without dressing up like an anthropomorphic Presidential Seal.

Yeah but there is some additional backstory with Miss USA. Dressing like that was sort of a big "screw you" to the bigots that didn't want her to be Miss USA.
posted by Justinian at 1:27 PM on August 19, 2010


Does Miss Spain's costume and pose create an optical illusion for anyone else that looks like she's dislocated her legs horribly? Because I was really concerned for a few moments.
It wasn't just you. I was trying to figure out how Aperture Science had anything to do with Spain.
posted by Katrel at 2:30 PM on August 19, 2010


yea, could you get your husband to explain Miss Venezuela to us too?

Apparently it represents statue honoring Che Guevara that was installed by the Chavez government then shattered by vandals.
I highly suspected his explanation to be some sort of Fark prank, so I confirmed the explanation here.
posted by Dr. Zira at 2:34 PM on August 19, 2010


Ah. Well these outfits are pretty conceptual then. Cryptic as all get-out, but conceptual.
posted by dabitch at 3:09 PM on August 19, 2010


Appropos of the evening, here is a closeup of five excited ladies and Donny Osmond.
Suck it, Trump!
posted by Dr. Zira at 7:45 PM on August 23, 2010


Miss Thailand won Best National Costume, although I can't find any photos of her in it.
posted by smackfu at 6:45 AM on August 24, 2010


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