Beauty with Belarusian character: what outfits will the Minsk woman present at Miss Universe 2026

At the anniversary, 75th international beauty contest "Miss Universe - 2026", the country will be represented by the first Vice-Miss of Belarus - 2025 Aliya Short. More than 140 participants from around the world will gather in Puerto Rico from November 8 to 24. The National School of Beauty showed the evening dress and national costume of the Belarusian contestant, and also told about the preparation for the international performance. Read more in the material of the correspondent of the agency “Minsk-Novosti”.

The main motive of the national costume A. Short was cornflower. The outfit was created by Belarusian designer Dmitry Titushkin, the work on it took more than a month. The white and blue range is complemented by stones, beads and elements of Belarusian ornament. The headdress is decorated with cornflowers and ears, and the three-dimensional design with floral elements framing the shoulders gives the image a special expressiveness.

However, the designers decided not to limit themselves to a single symbol. The composition included a mountain, which, according to the creators, symbolizes the fate of the Belarusian woman.

- When preparing for an international competition, we first of all determine what idea we want to convey to the audience. It is important that the national costume not only looks spectacular, but also reflects our culture. This time we decided to move away from the usual idea of traditional dress and show Belarusian symbols in a modern interpretation. Together with the designer, we discussed details, materials and design in order to maintain a connection with national motifs and at the same time create an image that will look good on the big stage, said the director and artistic director of the National School of Beauty Bozhena Jeremich.

The suit weighs about 15 kg. For the contestant, this is a serious test: during the show, it is necessary to maintain posture, move confidently and at the same time look at ease.

- For me, national costume is one of the most important ways out, because at this moment I represent not only myself, but also Belarus. It is important to get used to the design in advance and understand how to move in it on stage. For ten years of modeling, I participated in various shows and shootings, so physical activity does not scare me. The main thing is to properly present the image, maintain confidence and convey his idea to the viewer, said A. Short.

The second outfit that the Minsk woman will present at the competition is an evening dress. Its author was the mother of the girl Diana Short. The dress is made in light shades, decorated with stones, beads and rhinestones. A long plume, gloves with decorative elements and a white boa complement the image.

It took about a month to create the outfit. Short hand sewed decorative elements, often working on the dress at night. To develop the final image, mother and daughter began responsibly: they studied photos and videos of international competitions, compared different styles and chose the option that would look spectacular on the big stage.

- My mom and I started preparing for the dress long before the competition. We watched what decisions the participants of international competitions choose, discussed styles and imagined how the outfit would look in motion and under stage lighting. What is especially valuable to me is that my mother not only came up with an image, but also did a huge part of the work herself. She hand sewed stones and beads, paying attention to every detail. I saw how much time and effort it took, so going out in this dress for me will be especially exciting.

But the two main outfits are only part of the wardrobe that will be prepared for the trip. A. Short plans to take with him about 60 images, not counting swimsuits. Such an impressive number is explained by a rich program: participants will have numerous events, photo shoots and exits, for each of which you need to choose the right clothes.

- You can not limit yourself to a few universal sets: clothes should correspond to the format of the event, emphasize the individuality of the girl and help her introduce herself. In addition, it is important for the contestant to think through combinations of clothes, shoes and accessories in advance, so that in conditions of a busy schedule they quickly gather and do not waste time searching for suitable details, explained the stylist of the National School of Beauty Yulia Vorontsova.

In Puerto Rico, A. Short will go without escorts, so she will have to independently prepare for each exit. To confidently cope with this task, at the National School of Beauty, specialists in makeup, fashion, style, etiquette and not only did it.

Stage makeup always depends on the conditions in which the girl performs. Bright lighting and the work of cameras change the perception of facial features, so the usual everyday makeup can be too imperceptible. It is necessary to place accents correctly so that the image looks expressive both near and at a distance. At the same time, it is important to take into account the features of the contestant’s appearance: makeup should complement the image, not argue with it, explained the stylist of the National School of Beauty Elmira Omarova.

For A. Short upcoming competition will be the sixth in his career. According to the girl, many years of experience helps her feel more confident on stage and enjoy performing.

- In the first competition, I was very worried, my hands even trembling before going out. Now it's different: I'm used to the stage and I know how to behave. For me, there is no one solution that I consider the most difficult. Everyone is interesting in their own way. Of course, there is competition, because every girl wants to represent her country with dignity. But in the competitions I participated in, the atmosphere was mostly friendly. We try to support each other, said the Minsk woman.

Not without a charitable mission. The organizers invited countries to prepare lots related to national culture and symbols. Belarus will present glass cornflower made at the glass factory "Neman". It will be transferred to the organizers for the auction, and the proceeds will be sent to charitable purposes.

- We decided to choose cornflower - a recognizable symbol of Belarus, which is close to each of us. I wanted to present not just a souvenir, but a product in which the national image would receive a new embodiment. We hope that this gift will allow us to acquaint representatives of other countries with the work of Belarusian masters and will become a worthy symbol of our country at the international competition, Yeremich said.

In Puerto Rico, A. Short will travel in advance to adapt to a new location and prepare for a busy program. The Miss Universe 2026 Grand Final will take place on November 24.

Photo by Elizaveta Davidovskaya