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Is it a bird? Is it a winged goddess? Is it an ode to the history of traditional 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 evening.

Tasked with modeling looks that represent their homelands, 126 contestants took the stage at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City ahead of Saturday’s grand finale. And while many looked to folk arts, deities or their nations’ flags for inspiration, others took more outlandish approaches.

Miss Nicaragua, Geyssell García, came dressed as her country’s famous León Cathedral. Kenyan beauty queen Irene Mukii’s costume meanwhile featured the faces of several notable athletes, a nod to her country’s prowess in long-distance running. And Miss Chile, Emilia Dides, stepped out wearing a huge roulette wheel as a tribute to popular Chilean TV variety show “Sábado Gigante.”

Elsewhere, contestants turned to national flora and fauna, from Miss Bangladesh Aniqa Alam’s tiger-themed costume to the red-eyed elephant protruding from Miss Ivory Coast Marie-Emmanuelle Diamala’s outfit. Miss Myanmar, Thet San Andersen, burst out of a golden owl costume to reveal a pair of sparkling wings, while Great Britain’s Christina Chalk arrived on stage in a foliage-covered outfit inspired by the 121 million oak trees found in the United Kingdom.

Part of the glitzy pageant’s preliminary round, the costume segment was immediately followed by a swimwear contest. The winners of both will be announced on Saturday before the finalists are narrowed down to a shortlist of 30, who will then compete to inherit the Miss Universe crown from reigning titleholder Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua.

Scroll down to see some of the most eye-catching national costumes.

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This year's Miss Netherlands, Faith Landman, looked to the pottery traditions of the city of Delft.
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Toucan play this game: Miss Argentina, Magalí Benejam, wore a jungle-themed outfit featuring a blue-and-white bodice representing waterfalls.
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The parrotfish "dines on the coral (and) algae, and passes sand" the pageant's host announced as she introduced Miss Bahamas, Selvinique Wright.
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Miss Costa Rica, Elena Hidalgo, wore an outfit inspired by the imagery found on her country's currency, the colón.
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Miss Aruba, Anouk Eman, came dressed as an endangered Aruban burrowing owl.
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A butterfly-themed look from Miss Vietnam, Ky Duyen Nguyen.
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The United Kingdom is home to 121 million oak trees — and Miss Great Britain, Christina Chalk, paid tribute to them.
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Miss Chile, Emilia Dides, stepped out wearing a huge roulette wheel — a nod to popular Chilean TV variety show “Sábado Gigante.”
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Miss Bolivia, Juliana Barrientos, took the stage in a shaman-inspired look — complete with a stuffed toy owl.
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Miss Kenya, Irene Mukii, featured the faces of several notable athletes, a nod to her country’s prowess in long-distance running.
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The first person of First Nations heritage to represent Canada at Miss Universe, Ashley Callingbull wore a multi-tiered gown equipped with flashing lights.
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Miss Italy, Glenany Cavalcante, paid tribute to 1960s Italian cinema.
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Miss Jamaica, Rachel Silvera, paid homage to the female pioneers of dancehall music.
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Miss Cambodia, Davin Prasath, was one of several participants to come dressed as a deity.
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Miss Malta, Beatrice Njoya, became the first ever Miss Universe contestant to reach the finale in their 40s, after the pageant lifted a longstanding age limit of 28.
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Miss Ecuador, Tema Mara, walked the stage dressed as capital city Quito's historic center, with the San Francisco and Santo Domingo churches perched atop her shoulders.
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Miss Colombia, Emilia Dides, used her feathered outfit to highlight her country's cultural ties with host nation Mexico, according to the pageant's host.
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Last (alphabetically) but not least, Miss Zimbabwe, Sakhile Dube, was a multicolored eagle.
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Miss United States, Alma Cooper, kept things classic in an Uncle Sam-inspired costume.
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Miss Ukraine, Alina Ponomarenko, came in an armored outfit symbolizing "the courage of Ukrainian defenders," the pageant host said.
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Miss Nicaragua, Geyssell García, came dressed as her country’s famous León Cathedral.
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Miss Peru, Tatiana Calmell, channeled the Incan sun god, Inti.