The Miss Universe Ecuador organization revealed Leyla Espinoza’s national costume for Miss Universe 2020 a few hours ago. They shared a post describing the costume, “’SUMAQ’ is the national costume that Leyla Espinoza, Miss Universe Ecuador 2020 will be wearing. The dress is inspired by "the importance of the popular festival" of the Inti Raymi or Sun Festival of the Andean peoples.”

A piece by the Cuenca designer Andrea Segarra from the University of Azuay, the design was chosen on 19th February, 2020 as the Best Typical Costume 2020 at the Guayaquil Convention Center of the Miss Ecuador 2020. Daniela Mera who represented Muisne, adorned the design as her National Costume and was awarded the first place for the same.

The Festival of Inti Raymi takes place toward the end of June each year in the Andean villages of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Ecuador, where crowds gather to celebrate and show gratitude for the bounty of the earth with a variety of colorful traditional rituals.

Inti Raymi is also a celebration of reclaiming an indigenous identity which had been lost for a period of time. It opens an opportunity for indigenous Ecuadorians to stand together and be proud of their heritage, and proud of whom they are today.

The costume represents the elegance and grandeur of this popular festival and also makes known the gratitude that the Andean peoples have for their God Inti (sun) and for the goodness of its harvest to the Pachamama (land). The colours in the costumes are reflective of most expressions of the Inti Raymi that are colorful, loud, and fun.

Miss Universe 2020 will host the National Costume competition on 13th May 2021 with a live broadcast. Miss Universe Ecuador 2020 Leyla Espinoza will represent Ecuador at the 69th edition of Miss Universe on 16th May 2021 in the United States. The winner will succeed Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi from South Africa for the title.