The Miss Universe National Costumes Are Over-The-Top (In The Best Way)

The Miss Universe Pageant isn't usually an avenue we'd turn to for particularly creative or inspiring entertainment, but we like to keep an open mind. As it turns out, this year's event wasn't your ordinary beauty contest. Sure, there was the standard swimsuit category and the requisite entry-level Showgirl-style choreography (Vegas Mall in Moscow, no less). But, the National Costume category unleashed an artistic lioness in these ladies, who turned out in patriotic looks that give new context to maximalism. Honestly, very few looks were boring — and that's something we never thought we'd say about anything related to this franchise. Somehow, we managed to narrow it down and choose our favorite ten over-the-top Miss Universe National Costumes. Special props to Miss USA for a transformative concept that single-handedly forced old-school pageantry into the Robotic Age.