Miss Venezuela rules the sea in her national costume

Published January 14, 2017 11:26am

Miss Venezuela Mariam Habach on Friday gave her fans a sneak peek of her national costume.

Habach looked regal as "Reina Encantada del Mar" (Enchanted Queen of the Sea), photographed by Benigno Lopez.

A photo posted by Mariam Habach Santucci (@mariamhabach) on
Jan 12, 2017 at 3:53pm PST

A photo posted by Nidal Nouaihed (@nidaldesigner) on
Jan 13, 2017 at 5:51pm PST

A video posted by migsel garcia (@mixelorfebreria) on
Jan 12, 2017 at 5:51pm PST

The costume, designed by Nidal Nouaihed, is embroidered with hundreds of pearls. Habach's headdress is also heavily bejeweled.

Nouaihed drew inspiration from the mythology of the mermaid Guaica, a "virginal beauty who ventured into the sea and left with the waves."

The gown is additional inspired by the beautiful Venezuelan coastline and the folds in the dress evoke "the way of the waves" and fish scales.