Is it a bird ... Dutch ceramics? At Miss Universe 2024, it was all those things — and much more — as the annual pageant kicked off with its flamboyant national costume competition Thursday ...

Getty (3) The 71st Miss Universe Competition National Costume Show was held at the Ernest ... in an outfit resembling the Seychelles' payanke bird and the country's work in wildlife protection.

Vietnamese designer Nguyen Ngoc Tu drew inspiration from the image of the Golden Bird, a symbol of prosperity and wealth India once had.

Miss Nicaragua Sheynnis Palacios wearing a stunning black embellished costume, designed by Jorge Salazar Caliz, inspired from Nicaraguan Grackle. Credit: Instagram/@missuniverse Miss Universe ...