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Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Miss USA 2026: Wildest Outfits From the State Costume Contest
Business Insider: Despite the hiccup, the 2026 Miss USA pageant kicked off on Monday with the state costume competition. The contestants took the stage in dramatic costumes that represented their states, wearing feathers, sheer bodysuits, and daring backpieces.
I really enjoyed scrolling through all the different costumes from each state. I loved how they all brought different kinds of symbolism from their state into their outfits. I was blown away by some of the designs because of how intricate and beautiful they were. Specifically, I loved Idaho, South Carolina, and Nevada. I honestly expected Miss Idaho to show up as a sparkly potato, so I was pleasantly surprised by the fish sculpture she wore. This is the type of commitment to a theme that I would love to see at the Met Gala and other fashion events. The outfits were walking pieces of art that displayed the essence of each state. I did not like Miss Georgia's outfit at all. I thought it was a step down from all the other outfits. It did not match the camp spirit that all the other contestants had with their costumes.
I’m not very educated on pageants or what it looks like to compete in one, so on the outside, I find the state costumes to be such a cool aspect of pageant culture. From face value, some of these outfits seem a bit over the top, but in reality there is so much more to these looks. Each competitor is tasked with creating an outfit that will represent their entire state in a single glance. They have to consider their state’s history, people, current political climate, values, fun facts, and more. I find it so interesting to see who they partner with to bring their designs to life, and what topic they find important enough to center their look around. Hundreds of hours and dozens of artisans can contribute to these garments before they can take the stage at competition, so it is important to appreciate these outfits not just as clothing, but as art.
2 comments:
I really enjoyed scrolling through all the different costumes from each state. I loved how they all brought different kinds of symbolism from their state into their outfits. I was blown away by some of the designs because of how intricate and beautiful they were. Specifically, I loved Idaho, South Carolina, and Nevada. I honestly expected Miss Idaho to show up as a sparkly potato, so I was pleasantly surprised by the fish sculpture she wore. This is the type of commitment to a theme that I would love to see at the Met Gala and other fashion events. The outfits were walking pieces of art that displayed the essence of each state. I did not like Miss Georgia's outfit at all. I thought it was a step down from all the other outfits. It did not match the camp spirit that all the other contestants had with their costumes.
I’m not very educated on pageants or what it looks like to compete in one, so on the outside, I find the state costumes to be such a cool aspect of pageant culture. From face value, some of these outfits seem a bit over the top, but in reality there is so much more to these looks. Each competitor is tasked with creating an outfit that will represent their entire state in a single glance. They have to consider their state’s history, people, current political climate, values, fun facts, and more. I find it so interesting to see who they partner with to bring their designs to life, and what topic they find important enough to center their look around. Hundreds of hours and dozens of artisans can contribute to these garments before they can take the stage at competition, so it is important to appreciate these outfits not just as clothing, but as art.
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