MOSCOW, October 31. /TASS/. Miss Russia-2023 Margarita Golubeva will be wearing a Swan Princess Russian-style dress designed by Olga Malyarova of St. Petersburg at the 72nd Miss Universe pageant, Miss Russia Director General Anastasiya Belyak said on Tuesday.

The 72nd Miss Universe Pageant will be held in El Salvador on November 18, 2023.

"Tomorrow, Margarita is leaving for El Salvador. She will represent our country with dignity," Belyak told a news conference at TASS. "The costume [Golubeva will wear at the competition] is called Swan Princess. This year, we decided that Margarita will wear a dress based on Russian fairy tales. It is decorated with beautiful lace and semi-precious stones."

In all, according to Belyak, 86 girls will compete for the title.

The dress was inspired by Mikhail Vrubel’s Swan Princess painting, Golubeva told TASS. She also said she has been taking various classes in preparation for the contest.

Miss Universe, an annual international beauty pageant, is one of the Big Four international beauty competitions. Anna Linnikova of Orenburg, who won Miss Russia-2022, took part in the 71st Miss Universe Pageant in New Orleans, US, but failed to make it into the top-16.