Brace your eyeballs for the Miss Universe National Costume Show
Christmas is still six days away, but the biggest and best gift of the season has already arrived, in the form of photos from the Miss Universe National Costume Show. Every year, Miss Universe contestants compete over who can express the spirit of their home country through the application of copious sequins, tacky feathers, taxidermied animals (hey Colombia!), and other various gewgaws. It is, to put it simply, absolutely batshit, the sort of gaudy display that makes the average drag queen look like a J. Crew model. Observe:
(Miss Venezuela)
(Miss Romania, who hasn't learned where shoulder pads go.)
(Miss Mexico)
(Miss Isreal)
(Miss Honduras)
(It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Miss Great Britain!)
(Try harder, Miss Denmark)
The full set of photos can be found (in slideshow form, grrr) over here, or if you prefer fabulous witty commentary to supplement your own internal monologue of “WTF, WTF, WTF??,” I’d highly recommend Tom And Lorenzo’s annual rundown of the festivities. The full hourlong show can also be watched in all its retina-searing glory in the video below. Merry Happy, everyone!