The Preliminary competition of Miss Earth 2023 was held on 16th December 2023 at the Van Thanh Flower Village where the National Costume competition saw the contestants walking on the stage representing their countries traditions and cultures through their traditional outfits.

The online voting has started for the contestants to win the ‘Best in National Costume’ award. While all the delegates gave stellar performances, here are our Top picks for the Best National Costumes (in no specific order) –

Yllana Aduana representing Philippines

Yllana Aduana’s costume Maria Makiling, more properly Mariang Makiling, is a diwata (anito) in Philippine mythology, associated with Mount Makiling in Laguna, Philippines. She is the most widely known diwata in Philippine mythology and was venerated in pre-colonial Philippines as a goddess known as Dayang Masalanta or Dian Masalanta who was invoked to stop deluges, storms, and earthquakes. The mountain like skirt is an ensemble to honor the Mt. Makiling, while the white goddess costume is the diwata. The costume is mostly made of recyclable plastic materials, food containers - cut into leaflike structure.

Christianna Katsieri representing Greece

Christianna Katsieri’s national costume was an ode to Take Me Home - Take Our History Back movement and ask for the return to Greece of the cultural heritage.

Priyan Sain representing India

Priyan Sain wore the costume that represented the goddess of nature, wealth and prosperity- goddess Laxmi. My name translates to goddess Laxmi. The lotus in the national costume represents the shared culture of India and Vietnam as it is the national flower of both the countries. The golden color of the costume signifies the Golden Bird era of india.

Cindy Inanto representing Indonesia

Cindy Inanto’s costume is titled ‘The Queen Regal Guardian of Earth Eco-Eleganza Extravaganza’ and is a fusion of elegance and extravagance, making a bold statement about the importance of preserving Earth's natural wonders. The bodysuit, adorned with intricate embellishments, symbolizes the richness of Earth's biodiversity. The grandeur is elevated with magnificent wings, exuding a sense of majesty and a commitment to safeguarding our planet. The wings, expansive and awe-inspiring, represent the vastness of nature's beauty and the responsibility to protect it.

Ximena Huala representing Chile

Ximena Huala wore a national costume that showed the Tricahue parrot, a beautiful Chilean bird in danger of extinction due to the loss of its habitat and illegal hunting.