Miss Universe 2010 National Costume Parade of Nations Event: Nick Verreos Sizes Them Up!

Costume Drag Pageant Fashion Show!!!

Golden Eagle: Miss USA Rima Fakih plays homage to the Eagle in a costume made by the same Costume House who creates the Victoria's Secret "Wings"

This last Monday , the Miss Universe 2010 National Costume Show and Photo Op occurred at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Resort in Las Vegas Nevada. In the past, this portion of the pageant has been reserved for a grand "Competition" where experts judged the Best Costumes and gave out a prize. This never reflected or gave "added extra points" to the contestants in terms of vying for the crown; it was just for show and fun--and national pride.

Aussie Drag: Uggs, Sheepskin, and lots of leg on Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell

This year, it was done at the Hotel where the pageant is taking place and in a more informal basis; there was no "Best Costume Contest". But that doesn't mean I can't give my "Nick Verreos Costume Two Cents"...

Flora and Fauna Latina: Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Vicente shows off MORE than her leaves

I spoke last week about what we "might see" in terms of National Costumes from the 83 beauties in competition for the coveted Miss Universe 2010 crown. And yes, all those "Web Previews" giving hints of some of the CRAZEEE costumes that the ladies were going to bring...came true!

Miss Belgium Cilou Annys did end up wearing her "Tennis Ensemble" as I predicted (Is Tennis HUGE in Belgium?)...

And Miss Venezuela, Marelisa Gibson, wore her Oversized Swarovski mirrored crystal-encrusted jumpsuit inspired by the Abra Solar public sculpture located in her homeland

Miss Japan, Maiko Itai WORKED IT overtime, with her Geisha Barbie Doll-like Queen Costume, which included an over-sized fan (I need one of those!)--she definitely gets high points for "Best Costume" from moi...Speaking of Oversized:

Take a look at Miss Kazakhstan, Assel Kuchokova's traditional costume--and especially that headdress! I think she's not far behind Miss Japan in the "Girl You Worked It Out!" Best Costume Category

Also going "somewhat" traditional is Miss Philippines (a favorite for the crown), Venus Raj (love that name!) in her Manton de Manila-inspired costume...

I also loved Miss Switzerland, Linda Fah Warrior Princess Costume, especially that over-sized shield! Just wondering what the "Swiss Warrior Princess" would be protecting: Sketchy Tax-Free Multi-Billionaire Bank Accounts?

On the "Oh No You Didn't Corner", we have Miss Guyana, Tamika Henry. Either the Miss Guyana Organization had NO BUDGET to outfit her with a costume, or she just felt inspired to be a Hoochie Cougar From the Guyana Jungle. Great body. Wrong Costume.

Finally, the Sympathy Award for Best Costume goes to Miss Haiti, Sarodj Bertin and her very symbolic "Ode To Haiti" costume, featuring the national flag, photos and red roses. I'm sure when she stepped out the crowd went into a mutual "Awwwwwww!!!!!" and standing ovation! How do you say "You Go Girl!" en Creole?

Miss Universe 2010: Nick Verreos Previews the National Costumes!!

National Costumes Do's and Don'ts: Miss Universe Preview

She's a Star: Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson's National Costume Sketch, by Yvan Dumont and Hugo Espina

The 2010 Miss Universe Pageant has begun! The live telecast is not until Monday August 23rd but the 80+ contestants from all over the world are arriving in Las Vegas, the site of this year's contest. The international Parade of Nations or Costume "Red Carpet", is always a part of the pageant that fans and pageant-watchers always look forward to. Miss France 2010 Malika Menard shows off her white off the shoulder gown with French flag colors side drape. Don't miss the Eiffel Tower on a Beret hat design: A Do or a Don't?

People always wonder: "What CRAZY MESS did the local designers come up with now?", or "What over-sized Carnival flora-and-fauna concoction will Miss Trinidad and Tobago wear?" , or "Will Miss France go Can Can or wear the Eiffel Tower on her head (see above)?" Well, we haven't seen "officially" what the contestants are really going to be wearing during the "Miss Universe 2010 Parade of Nations" Traditional Costume segment yet, but one quick search on the Web and you can discover a "preview" of what they might show up to Vegas in...

Here's a DON'T: The new Miss Australia Universe Jesinta Campbell chose THIS to be her national costume. Let's break this down: Uggs , multi-layered overskirt with a sheepskin bolero/shrug? Aboriginal Tribal Bikiniwear Goes Cha-Cha is more like it! The Telegraph in the UK called it "a travesty". Ouch. This might have even been better:On the European Front: Speaking of National Costume Dont's...

Bless Miss Romania and Miss Belgium (left to right) pretty little costumed hearts: Above are their supposed national costumes for the Miss Universe 2010. Miss Romania's dress looks as if a 12 year old who just started their first "Fashion Class" made it. And why are there bows and arrows on her back? And Miss Belgium's costume (I am guessing) reflects her country's love of tennis (?). I wondered: "Was tennis invented in Belgium maybe?" But a quick Google search enlightened me that no, it actually came from France and Great Britain.

Miss Slovenia's supposed national costume is a strapless white gown with "Inked" printings of important Slovenian "landmarks" on it. Her longing look tells me she's probably thinking "Why Am I Wearing This Mess?".

A Little Voyage to Asia...

Shows us hints of what contestants from Korea, Thailand and Japan might be featuring as their national costume. I like how "traditional" Miss Korea Kim Joo-Ri's costume is. Love the vibrant colors and the exaggerated headdress.

Miss Thailand Fonthip Watcharatrakul's costume sketch has been "released" as we can see above. It is supposedly "inspired" by the grand elephants of Thailand depicting the trunk and large ears. This should be really interesting! Can't wait for that one year when Miss Thailand's national costume depicts the drunk British kids who take over Phuket and do things very un-Thai...

Miss Japan Maiko Itai's is FAB-U-LOUS!!!!!! Go on Miss Japan! Whoever is coming up with Miss Japan's costumes for the Miss Universe pageants lately must be a FIERCE Drag Queen! This is Haute Couture Drama. Maiko: Go to Las Vegas and get your damn "Best Costume Award" huney!

The Latinas:

Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson's costume, designed by Yvan Dumont and Hugo Espina is not a Colonial Costume or a Native Amerindian concoction--these last two being the most popular choices for a Miss Venezuela. Instead, for Gibson, the Miss Venezuela Organization and it's "house designers" decided on a costume loosely based on the sculpture by Alejandro Otero, Abra Solar (see above), located in Caracas Venezuela.

Designers Hugo Espina and Yvan Domont putting the final touches on Miss Venezuela's National Costume.

Miss Dominican Republic Eva Arias looks as if she might be choosing the more sequined route for her "traditional costume". It looks like an Amazonian Carib-Indian Princess who had too much money to spend at the local Swarovski crystal store. In addition, I am scared of that whip! But I have a feeling she'll work it OVERTIME. Speaking of working overtime...

There had to be an "honorable mention" for Miss Puerto Rico Mariana Vicente and this above. If she really wears this, she will get my "Nick Award" for the contestant most giving Flora and Fauna a new name! She's got the fringe to simulate rain, the ball gown/skirt made of leaves, the sequined leotard. And if that wasn't enough, let's just throw in a bunch of flowers at the shoulder. At-a-Girl. I am LIVING for it! Me gusta.

We'll see soon what costumes these women really wear in Las Vegas, but until then, I will hope and pray that they really show up with these, all in their Do's and Don'ts Glory!!!