Puerto Rico's Zashely Alicea Rivera to wear hummingbird-inspired costume at Miss Universe 2025
Puerto Rico's national costume for the upcoming 74th Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2025) has been officially revealed on Tuesday, October 21 at the San Juan Museum.
Designed by renowned designer Joshuan Aponte, Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2025 Zashely Alicea Rivera will be wearing the "El Zumbador de Puerto Rico" (The Puerto Rican Emerald) costume.
The costume was inspired by the majestic Puerto Rican emerald, a unique hummingbird species found only in Puerto Rico and holds particular significance as a symbol of the island's unique biodiversity.
It features an iridescent crystal-embroidered bodice that reflects the metallic sheen of the hummingbird's wings; a sauté tutu in iridescent greens, blues, and violets culminating in the bird's signature forked blue tail; and dramatic wings that highlight the energy, swiftness, and grace that distinguish this unique pollinator.
The headdress, inspired by the bird's characteristic beak, completes the design with a sculptural detail created from sheets of worbla and embroidered with crystals, creating a lightweight, high-impact piece that frames Zashely's face.
Her legs, stylized with iridescent black tights and pointe shoes encrusted with jet, onyx, violet, royal blue, and iridescent black crystals, provide contrast and drama, highlighting the queen's athletic and elegant figure.
The national costume not only represents the strength, delicacy, and beauty of Puerto Rican women but also capture the essence of Puerto Rico: nature, movement, and art, united in a contemporary vision that shines proudly on the international stage.
True to a commitment to environmental conservation, the design does not use feathers or animal-derived materials, instead employing organza, vinyl, acetate, sequins, metallic crinoline, and foam sheets to recreate textures and finishes that evoke the splendor of the hummingbird's plumage.
The Puerto Rican hummingbird, like Puerto Rican women, is a symbol of elegance, patience, strategy, and resilience. Although small, it possesses admirable strength and a unique presence in nature: a reminder that greatness is not measured by size, but by impact.
Zashely will head to Bangkok, Thailand to compete for the highly coveted Miss Universe 2025 crown this November.
Photos: Jean Nieves / Miss Universe Puerto Rico
