11.   For the first time, contestants will not be appearing in national costumes, which organizers felt put those with clumsy clothing like clogs at a disadvantage.

12.   How did the national costume fall from favour?

13.   In the national costume contest, Miss Colombia, Claudia Elena Vasquez won for a golden, form-fitting dress with matching headdress.

14.   More cheering and waving greeted the athletes, some wearing national costumes such as the lavalava, a sarong-like skirt, of the American Samoans.

15.   Miss USA will make a political statement when she dons her national costume at the Miss Universe pageant early Saturday.

16.   Sezer was greeted at the airport by a Tajik military band and government officials and young women in Tajik national costumes waving white flowers.

17.   The bridegroom was also dressed in a traditional national costume and carried a hunting rifle and a pistol.

18.   The women guests looked splendid in their national costumes, while the men looked dashing in formal attire as they shared in the Ghanaian independence day joy.

19.   Under brilliantly sunny skies, rattletrap Russian jeeps and flatbed trucks brought more voters, nearly all in the national costume of caftan-like robes and high boots.

20.   Young girls in national costume presented the Westerners with flowers at the airport.