Striking gowns take center stage at the highly anticipated Miss Universe 2023 preliminaries.
Held on November 15, 2023 (CST), the event transformed its venue—José Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador— into a four-way catwalk with a faux waterfall backdrop.
Amidst this captivating setting, 84 candidates exuded grace and poise in their carefully-curated gowns that added an extra layer of dazzle to the celebration.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) puts a spotlight on the 15 standouts who effortlessly left a lasting impression on the pageant fans.
Read: How much does it cost to attend Miss Universe 2023 pageant in El Salvador
BAHRAIN
Miss Bahrain Lujane Yacoub's dress is inspired by the fresh springs surrounding her country's Two Seas islands, from which the Arabic name Bahrain comes.
COLOMBIA
Miss Colombia Camila Avella shines bright in a silver masterpiece.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Miss Dominican Republic Mariana Isabel Downing dons a mint blue crisscross halter neck gown.
EL SALVADOR
Miss El Salvador Isabella Garcia-Manzo is drop-dead gorgeous in a sheer center split dress embellished with golden details.
GERMANY
Miss Germany Helena Bleicher is Barbie personified in a sultry red gown.
HONDURAS
Miss Honduras Zu Clemente is a vision as she spreads her arms to showcase her silver gown's shoulder drapes.
INDIA
Miss India Shweta Sharda rocks the portion with a flowy cape to complement her navy blue formal wear by couturiers duo Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna.
LEBANON
Miss Lebanon Maya Aboul Hosn makes jaws drop with her princess-like ball gown, featuring plunging neckline connecting right down to a thigh-high side slit.
PAKISTAN
Erica Robin does justice as the first-ever Miss Universe Pakistan, wearing Furne One Amato's ONE masterpiece, symbolizing the color white of her country's flag.
PHILIPPINES
Miss Philippines Michelle Dee's exquisite black evergreen Mark Bumgarner gown represents the abundant natural resources of the Philippines.
SOUTH AFRICA
Miss South Africa Bryoni Natalie Govender seamlessly blends her Indian heritage and the rich mineral landscape of South Africa in a gown from Willet Designs Couture.
THAILAND
Miss Thailand Anntonia Porsild shines in custom Valentier Atelier ombré embellished tulle gown dubbed as the "Light of the universe."
UKRAINE
Miss Ukraine Angelina Usanova embodies her country's tenacity to be reborn from the ashes in complete freedom through Iris van Herpen's creation called "Phoenix Rising."
VENEZUELA
Miss Venezuela Diana Silva's Leap Angel waterfalls-inspired gown is a creation of fashion designer Richard Ramirez Castro.
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