Nepal

Sophiya Bhujel, who represented Nepal at Miss Universe 2022, strode across the stage with a trident as Kali, the Hindu Goddess of power. Miss Universe's National Costume Competition is currently taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 26-year-old beauty queen was wearing a crimson sari with golden designs paired with a low-cut red blouse.

Goddess Kali's incarnate on the stage smeared her forehead with red vermillion powder and painted the third eye in the centre of her forehead, creating a traditional representation of the revered Hindu goddess.

She wore nathiya (a nose ring), earrings, and necklaces that matched to resemble the Hindu Goddess Kali. She thrust out her tongue in an attempt to appear as vicious as the Goddess herself as she took centre stage and made the audience feel the presence of the deity.

As she walked in, the event's emcee remarked, "This outfit was inspired by Shakti, the dynamic feminine principle that is frequently portrayed as goddess. It reminds us that each woman is a boundless source of energy.”

She is one of 83 beauty queens representing their respective countries in Miss Universe 2022 -the 71st edition of the beauty pageant. 

Other 83 delegates in the event walked the stage flaunting their national costumes. Some of them had bird designed gowns, while others walked wearing dresses matched with colours of the respective countries’ national flags, floras and faunas. 

According to Miss Universe 2022 beauty pageant, the winning participant will be chosen through the process of personal statements, in-depth interviews and various categories including evening gown and swimwear.

The winner will succeed 70th Miss Universe, Harnaaz Sandhu, who brought the title back to India for the first time in twenty-one years. The new Miss Universe will be crowned in on January 14 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.