For purists, the represents the pinnacle of the "swimsuit era." The contestants wore identical, branded bikinis with sashes—a stark contrast to today’s varied swimwear. The top fifteen were announced after the swimsuit round, narrowing the field to a fierce top ten.

After the gown segment, the judges selected the :

Reduced to the top 10 finalists, this segment featured Mori in her iconic black, red, and purple Japanese-inspired gown. Final Question:

: The final results sparked intense debate. While Mori won, many fans felt Natália Guimarães (Miss Brazil) , the 1st runner-up, or Honey Lee (Miss Korea) , the 3rd runner-up who had a standout evening gown performance, should have taken the crown.

Contestants from 77 countries showcased their national costumes.