South Africa's Bryoni Govender to wear sari-inspired national costume for Miss Universe 2023


Miss Universe South Africa 2023 Bryoni Natalie Govender will be wearing a sari-inspired national costume at the 72nd Miss Universe pageant.

A sari (saree) is an elegant and traditional dress worn by women from the Indian subcontinent (South Asia).

Designed by multi-award-winning designer Casey Jeanne Walters, Bryoni's national costume is a tribute to her African-Indian heritage.

The beautiful costume representing South Africa's rich culture and its diversity is decorated with traditional Zulu beads in a pattern inspired by a Ndebele print.

"When Werner Wessels asked me to design the national costume for Miss South Africa for the Miss Universe pageant, I was initially a bit like, huh, what, me!?," the designer shared on social media.

"But then the concepts of mixed South African and Indian heritage came together and I just had to create something truly special," she added.

"I'm so proud of this piece and how it pushed us. I just love the colors and all the custom beading we created. It's so different to what we normally do and yet it's totally up my alley."

Bryoni will present her national costume at the Miss Universe 2023 competition this coming November in El Salvador.

Photos: Willem Botha / Miss South Africa

Popular posts from this blog

Miss Universe Mexico 2025 is Fatima Bosch of Tabasco

Image
Fatima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe Mexico 2025 on Saturday, September 13 at Sala Placido Domingo (Conjunto Santander de Artes Escénicas) in Zapopan, Jalisco. The 24-year-old designer from Teapa, Tabasco triumphed over 30 other contestants to win the coveted national title. She will represent Mexico at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. Fernanda Vázquez of Nuevo León was named first runner-up while Yoana Gutiérrez of Jalisco, Ana Ramírez of Nayarit, and Alejandra Díaz de León of San Luis Potosí were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark graced the event as special guest while former Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera from Puerto Rico was part of the panel of judges. The new Miss Universe Mexico succeeded last year's winner María Fernanda Beltrán who placed second runner-up at Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico City. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram ...
Read more

Miss Universe Argentina 2025 is Aldana Masset of Entre Rios

Image
Aldana Masset was crowned Miss Universe Argentina 2025 on Sunday, May 25 at Mansión Tango in Buenos Aires. The 25-year-old singer and image consultant from the province of Entre Rios beat 27 other contestants to win the national title. Julieta Ricardez of La Pampa was named first runner-up while Judit Grnja of Chaco, Ayelen Torres of La Rioja, Carolina Danieri of Comunidad Extranjera, and Xiomara Menna of Misiones were the second, third, fourth and fifth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Argentina will now prepare to represent her country at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this November. Aldana succeeds last year's winner Magalí Benejam Corthey who made the Top 12 at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cromo Genesis (@cromogenesis) Photos: Cromo Genesis / Instagram
Read more

Polish-American Emily Reng to represent Poland at Miss Universe 2025

Image
Polish-American Emily Reng was officially announced by the Miss Polonia organization as Miss Universe Poland 2025 on Wednesday, October 22. The 20-year-old will now prepare to represent Poland at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this coming November. Emily is a graduate of John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois and is currently a student at the University of South Carolina. The new Miss Universe Poland is no stranger to pageantry. Prior to competing at Miss Polonia 2024 where she finished second runner-up, she won the title of Miss Polish America 2024 in Chicago. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by EMILY RENG (@emilyreng) Photos: Przemek Kowalczyk, Magdalena Michalak / Miss Polonia
Read more

Miss Universe 2025: Meet the contestants

Image
Miss Universe 2025, the 74th Miss Universe competition is set to take place on Friday, November 21 at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig from Denmark will hand over her crown to her successor at the conclusion of the event. This year's much-talked-about edition marked Thailand's fourth time hosting the prestigious beauty pageant after 1992, 2005, and 2018. Following the withdrawal of several countries including Cameroon, Germany, Iceland, Kenya, Mongolia, and Montenegro, 122 contestants from various countries and territories are left competing for the coveted international beauty title. The competition has welcomed the debuts of Miss Universe Latina, Cape Verde, Mayotte, Palestine, and Rwanda as well as the return of Ghana, Haiti, Iraq, Kosovo, Panama, Slovenia, South Africa and Sweden. Bonaire and Rwanda, both 42 years old, are the oldest participants this year while 18-year-old Belarus and Ireland are the youngest. For the fir...
Read more

Miss Venezuela World 2025 is Mística Nuñez of Falcón

Image
Mística Nuñez, representing Falcón, was crowned Miss Venezuela World 2025 in a national competition held at the Studio 1 of Venevisión on Wednesday, November 12 in Caracas. The 24-year-old pharmacist and medical student succeeds last year's titleholder Valeria Cannavò and will represent Venezuela at the Miss World 2026 competition. Aside from Mística, two other beauties were crowned in the national pageant. Valeria Di Martino, a 20-year-old medical student representing Zulia, was proclaimed Miss International Venezuela 2025 and will head to Japan next year for the Miss International 2026 pageant. Silvia Maestre Camero of Apure, a 27-year-old social communication graduate, clinched the title of Miss Supranational Venezuela 2025 and will go to Miss Supranational 2026 in Poland next summer. Completing the Top 7 finalists were the representatives of Amazonas, María Evangelista Alayón, Mérida, Milena Soto, Monagas, Gabriela Villegas, and Yaracuy, Gabriela de la Cruz. The new Miss World ...
Read more

Miss Côte d'Ivoire 2025 is Fatima Koné

Image
Fatima Koné was crowned Miss Côte d'Ivoire 2025 in a national competition held on Saturday, June 28 in Abidjan. The 23-year-old beauty, representing the region on Hambol, edged out 29 other contestants to win the coveted national title. Diane Gouano of N'Zi and Marie-Axelle Gbogou of Folon were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. The Comité Miss Cote d'Ivoire (COMICI) has yet to announce which international pageant the new Miss Côte d'Ivoire will participate in. Last year's winner Marie-Emmanuelle Diamala went to the 74th Miss Universe in Mexico while her first runner-up Fatoumata Coulibaly went to the 72nd Miss World competition in India. Photo: Miss Côte d'ivoire / Instagram
Read more

Miss Universe Portugal 2025 is Camila Vitorino

Image
Former Miss Queen of Portugal Camila Vitorino was crowned Miss Universe Portugal 2025 last Saturday, June 14 in the beautiful and historic city of Elvas. The 26-year-old from São Sebastião, Setúbal made history as the first married woman and mother to become Miss Universe Portugal. Laura Malaquias, Diliana Fernandes, and Ivone Carneiro were announced as the first, second, and third runners-up, respectively. Last year's winner Andreia Correia passed on her crown to her successor at the end of the event. "It is with great honor that I carry this sash on my chest representing all women, all mothers and the Portuguese people. I promise you that I will give my best on behalf of all of Portugal," shared the new Miss Universe Portugal. Camila is no stranger to beauty pageants, having won Miss Queen of Portugal 2019. She was supposed to participate in Miss Earth 2020 but ended up not competing due to professional reasons. She will now prepare to represent Portugal at Miss Univers...
Read more

Miss Universe 2026 host country and venue officially announced

Image
The Miss Universe Organization has officially confirmed that Puerto Rico will be the host country for the Miss Universe 2026 pageant. Puerto Rican politician Jenniffer González Colón also made an announcement in a conference held on Tuesday, September 23 in San Juan. The 75th Miss Universe edition will be held in November 2026 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, the largest indoor entertainment and sports arena in Puerto Rico. Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig from Denmark was present at the conference alongside former winners from Puerto Rico — Deborah Carthy-Deu (1985), Dayanara Torres (1993), Denise Quiñones (2001), and Zuleyka Rivera (2006). Next year's competition will be the fourth Miss Universe edition to take place in Puerto Rico after 1972 (Dorado), 2001 (Bayamón), and 2002 (San Juan). Contestants from 135 countries and territories around the world are expected to compete for the crown. Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and unincorporated U....
Read more

Miss Universe Japan 2025 is Kaori Hashimoto from Tochigi Prefecture

Image
Kaori Hashimoto was crowned Miss Universe Japan 2025 in a national competition held on Wednesday, July 16 in Shibuya. The 21-year-old business administration student from Tochigi Prefecture beat over 40 other contestants to win the national title. Saki Fujita and Reina Ishii were the first and second runners-up, respectively, while Chiemi Takayama and Naomi Monique Kamidate were the rest of the Top 5 finalists. Kaya Chakrabortty, last year's winner who made the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2024 held in Mexico, crowned her successor at the end of the event. The new Miss Universe Japan will now prepare to represent Japan at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this November. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Japan Official (@missuniversejapan) Photos: Marai Ken / Miss Universe Japan
Read more

Miss Universe Chile 2025 is Inna Moll from Vitacura

Image
Inna Moll, representing Vitacura, was crowned Miss Universe Chile 2025 in a national competitipn held on Friday, August 1 in Santiago. The 28-year-old model and influencer will now prepare to represent Chile at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this November. Martina Kriskovich of Huechuraba was named first runner-up while María Jesús Honorato of Las Condes, Scarlett Hermosilla of Lo Barnechea, and Paula Jiménez of Providencia were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. This year's final competition was held at the studio of Canal 13 television network. Reigning Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig from Denmark graced the glittering event as a special guest. The new Miss Universe Chile succeeds last year's winner Emilia Dides 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 Universo Chile® (@misschileuniverso) Photos: Anto...
Read more