Ukraine wins best national costume at 71st Miss Universe


Miss Universe Ukraine Viktoria Apanasenko was announced the winner of the 71st Miss Universe national costume which was determined by public votes.

The Miss Universe Organization made the official announcement of the winning costume on Wednesday, March 15 via the Miss Universe official app.

Viktoria paraded her "Warrior of Light" costume during the 71st Miss Universe national costume presentation last January in New Orleans, Louisiana.

It consists of an archangel sword, a monolithic jumpsuit that serves like an armor covering her body, a vyshyvanka-styled dress, a headpiece, and angel wings.

The beautiful masterpiece designed by Ukrainian costume designer Lesia Patoka took several months to complete under extreme conditions due to the armed conflicts in Ukraine.

According to Viktoria, it is a symbol of her nation's fight against the darkness, like an archangel Michael with a sword protecting her country. Importantly, it represents the strength, courage, and determination of her people.

In case you missed it, here is the full look of the winning costume:

Photos: Miss Universe Ukraine

Popular posts from this blog

Who will be crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2025?

Image
A total of 23 stunning women are currently vying for the highly coveted title and crown of Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2025. The preliminary competition took place on Sunday, August 10 at Teatro Tapia. After showcasing their swuimsuit and evening gown performances, contestants from Dorado, Vieques, Ponce, Carolina, Jayuya, and Morovis bagged the special awards. Hosted by José Santana and Diane Ferrer, the much awaited final gala will be held this Thursday, August 14 at Centro de Bellas Artes de Santurce in San Juan. The show will broadcast on Wapa Televisión, Wapa América, Wapa+, and wapa.tv/envivo. Former titleholder Karla Guilfú Acevedo and former Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera will be among the distinguished panel of judges who will choose the next queen. The ultimate winner of this year's competition will represent Puerto Rico at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this November. Who will succeed last year's winner Jennifer Colón Alvarado? One of these 23 beauties ...
Read more

Miss Universe Canada 2025 is Jaime VandenBerg

Image
Jaime VandenBerg was announced the winner of Miss Universe Canada 2025 on Saturday, August 9 at the Chrysler Theatre in Windsor, Ontario. The 28-year-old international model and actress from Lethbridge, Alberta will represent Canada at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this November. Karmen Brar was named first runner-up while Jabili Kandula, Malayika Kwizera, and Kamuahao Hei weret the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Canada was crowned by her predecessor Ashley Callingbull who made the Top 12 at Miss Universe 2024 held last November in Mexico. Jamie is no stranger to pageantry, having joined the 71st Miss World competition last year in Mumbai, India and made the Top 40 among 112 contestants. She holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the the University of Lethbridge. Her commitment to philanthropy led to her recognition with a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and the International Diana Award. Road to...
Read more

Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2025 is Zashely Alicea Rivera

Image
Zashely Alicea Rivera, representing Dorado, was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2025 on Thursday, August 14 at Centro de Bellas Artes de Santurce in San Juan. The 25-year-old psychology graduate, professional ballet dancer and model will represent Puerto Rico at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. Samarys Barbot Arroyo of Jayuya was named first runner-up while Isys Arimar Santos Crespo of  Vieques, Marisabel Rivera Negrón of Ponce and  Aneichka Maldonado Torres of Canóvanas were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Puerto Rico succeeded last year's winner  Jennifer Colón Alvarado who made the Top 12 at Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Puerto Rico (@muniversepr) Photos: Josian Bruno / Wapa Digital
Read more

Puerto Rico's Ivana Carolina Irizarry crowned Universal Woman 2025

Image
Ivana Carolina Irizarry, representing Puerto Rico, was crowned Universal Woman 2025 on Saturday, August 10 in Jaipur, India. The 30-year-old model, presenter and businesswoman made history as the first Puerto Rican woman to clinch the international title. She succeeds last year's winner Maria Gigante of the Philippines. Iris Miguélez of Spain was named first runner-up while Ismelys Velásquez of Venezuela, Katty López España of Ecuador, and Roci Pankov of Brazil were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The new Universal Woman is no stranger to pageantry. She took part in Miss International 2019, finishing in the Top 15, and also competed in Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2024, where she reached the Top 5. Ivana was also a contestant during the second season of "Super Chef Celebrities" which is the most anticipated cooking reality show on Puerto Rican television. This year's glittering competition marked the third edition of the annual Universal Woman pa...
Read more

Miss Universe Australia 2025 is Lexie Brant from Brisbane

Image
Queensland's Lexie Brant was proclaimed the winner of Miss Universe Australia 2025 on Friday, August 15 at Crown Perth in Burswood, Western Australia. The 21-year-old model from Brisbane bested 29 other contestants to win the national competition. She will represent Australia at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. Ivy Prempeh was named first runner-up while Cara Mooney, Bianca Black, and Ash Donner were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 10 finalists were Nadia Delis, Georgia Dewstow-Smith, Chloe Hardy and Asha Cooper. The new Miss Universe Australia was crowned by her predecessor Zoe Creed who participated in Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico. Lexie is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in occupation therapy. Besides her studies and professional modelling, she works at Brisbane Private Hospital. As Miss Universe Australia, she hopes to advocate for the importance of early childhood development, w...
Read more

Miss Universe Jamaica 2025 is Gabrielle Henry

Image
Gabrielle Henry bested over 20 other contestants to be crowned Miss Universe Jamaica 2025 on Saturday, August 9 at AC Hotel in Kingston. The 28-year-old medical doctor will represent Jamaica at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. She succeeds last year's winner Rachel Silvera. Apart from winning Miss Universe Jamaica, she also bagged the Best in Swimwear, Personality Award, Media Challenge, and the Altruism Award. Troy-Ann Anderson and Matea Smith were announced the first and second runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Jamaica won her coveted national title in her second attempt. She already joined the pageant in 2023 and became one of the Top 6 finalists. Gabrielle is an ophthalmology resident at the University Hospital of the West Indies. A passionate advocate for the visually impaired, she founded the See Me Foundation to help members of the visually impaired community of Jamaica. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Insta...
Read more

Miss Universe Dominican Republic 2025 is Jennifer Ventura

Image
Jennifer Ventura Marte emerged as the winner of Miss Universe Dominican Republic 2025 on Sunday, August 10 at Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito in Santo Domingo. The 27-year-old civil engineer from Barahona bested 28 other contestants to win the national title. She will represent the Dominican Republic at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. Jearmanda Ramos of Punta Cana and Criselys Garcia of Peravia were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. Delia Mejia of San Jose de Ocoa, Anita Maspons of Santo Domingo Guzman, and Delisa Francisco of Maria Trinidad Sanchez rounded out the Top 6 finalists. This year's competition was hosted by Mexican actor Clovis Nienow and Venezuelan personality Jessica Pereira. Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark graced the show as a special guest. The new Miss Universe Dominican Republic succeeded last year's winner Celinee Santos who made the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico. R...
Read more

Sweden's Yvonne Ryding celebrates 40 years since winning Miss Universe 1984

Image
Let's walk down memory lane as 40 years ago, Fröken Sverige Yvonne Agneta Ryding was crowned Miss Universe 1984 during the 33rd Miss Universe pageant in Miami, Florida. At age 21, she became the third Swedish woman in history to become Miss Universe. The blue-eyed blondie received the crown from her predecessor Lorraine Downes of New Zealand following the glittering spectacle on July 9, 1984. In an Instagram post on Tuesday, exactly 40 years since she won the crown, Yvonne shared: "Celebrating my 40th anniversary today, the 9th of July. Thank you to all my sisters around the world. All the girls that were competing my year. My life changed overnight." "As my friend (the box champ Ingemar Johansson), told me the first week of my reign, "Yvonne remember a champ is always a champ. So that's what I'm celebrating today," she added. The former beauty queen turned TV personality and entrepreneur from Eskilstuna, who founded her own skincare company YR Skin...
Read more

Nadeen Ayoub to represent Palestine at Miss Universe 2025

Image
Palestine is set to debut at the Miss Universe pageant this year with the recently appointed Miss Universe Palestine 2025 Nadeen Ayoub. The 27-year-old sustainability advocate and founder of Olive Green Academy made the official announcement on social media. She wrote, "I am honored to announce that for the first time ever, Palestine will be represented at Miss Universe." In her statement, Nadine is dedicating her upcoming stint on the international stage to the people of Gaza and Palestine. "I represent every Palestinian woman and child whose strength the world needs to see," she shared online. "We are more than our suffering—we are resilience, hope, and the heartbeat of a homeland that lives on through us," she added. No stranger to pageantry, the first-ever Miss Universe Palestine has previously joined the Miss Earth pageant in 2022 and made the Top 4 among 85 contestants. Nadine will head to Thailand to represent Palestine at Miss Universe 2025 this N...
Read more

Miss Universe Aruba 2025 is Hannah Arends

Image
Hannah Arends was crowned Miss Universe Aruba 2025 on Sunday, August 10 at the Paseo Herencia Ballroom in Noord. The 28-year-old bested three other beauties to win the national title. She will represent Aruba at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. Emily van Spaandonk, Sammie van Pinxteren and Tishaina Silvania were the rest of the contestants who are also expected to compete in various international pageants. The new Miss Universe Aruba succeeded last year's winner Anouk Eman who made the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico. Hannah is originally from Savaneta and is a graduate of the University of Aruba with a bachelor's degree in law. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carmen Steffens Aruba 👠👗👙👜 (@carmensteffensaruba) Photos: Clickit Aruba, Jonnatan Valencia / Carmen Steffens Aruba
Read more