December 13, (THEWILL) – At the 2021 Miss Universe grand finale which took place in Eilat, Israel on Sunday, December 12, Nigeria’s representative to the beauty pageant Maristella Okpala won the Best in National Costume award.
The costume designed by Filipino fashion student Kenny Gasper, is the Mmwana costume, inspired by a well-known traditional masquerade of a tribe in southern Nigeria.
It featured a beaded headpiece, an ornate tribal mask, and a brilliant ancient back cape.
According to Maristella, it represents the beautiful Mmanwa who fought tirelessly to stop girl child mutilation and child slavery while the colourful patterns and embellishments portray the African dashiki which offers a visual appeal and forms meant to invoke the ancestral spirits.
“I picked this particular costume because I see a self-reflection of my cause in this Mmanwa who protects children and women against any form of abuse,” Maristella told the audience during the pageant
India’s Harnaaz Sandhu took home the Miss Universe crown.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
