MANILA, Philippines — Outfits inspired by creatures or objects wings was a common theme during the Miss Universe 2023 national costume show, held in El Salvador's Jose Adolfo Pineda Arena.
Prime among them were the Philippines' own Michelle Dee wearing a plane-like costume promoting local tourism while fan favorite Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua wore a black outfit resembling the great-tailed grackle found in the Americas.
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Similarly donning outfits inspired by birds found in their countries were Brazil's Maria Brechane for the blue macaw, Chile's Celeste Viel for the condor, and Trinidad and Tobago's Faith Gillezeau for the scarlet ibis.
Faith even went on stage on stilts, prompting co-host Nick Teplitz to joke that she was now the tallest contestant.
Several delegates wore winged outfits to represent creatures significant their country's culture like Albania's Endi Demneri for the eagle, Bulgaria's Yuliia Pavlikova with a golden owl, and Denmark's Nikoline Hansen with a dragon.
Both Cayman Islands' Ileann Powery and Malta's Ella Portelli had costumes inspired by butterflies while Venezuela's Diana Silva's costume was that of a feathered devil. Also wearing winged outfits were Karol Croes of Aruba and Estefany Rivero of Boliva.
Filipino-American and reigning Miss Universe R'Bonney Gabriel will crown her successor on November 18 (the 19th in the Philippines), where Michelle hopes to win the Philippines' fifth-ever crown.
RELATED: Fly high, Pinay: Captain Michelle Dee soars at Miss Universe 2023 National Costume competition