Moscow, Russia – The preliminary competition for the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant unfolded today at  the Vegas Mall in Moscow, as contestants from 86 countries paraded in their “national costumes.”

The Huffington Post  reports:  “Alexandra Fribourg of Sweden honored her country’s Viking past in a metallic bustier and a sword. Miss Belgium Noémie Happart looked like she was dressed as the Devil complete a spiky red spear, and Miss Great Britain Amy Willerton wore royal robes so sexy we bet even Prince Philip would have a thing or two to say.”

But when all was said and done, Miss USA Erin Brady brought home the bacon by winning the best national costume award.  She wore a red, white and blue robot attire that would make American fans of “The Transformers” proud and ecstatic. “The Transformers” is a blockbuster Hollywood movie directed by Michael Bay and produced by Steven Spielberg.

As in any competition, there are winners and there are sore losers. Many contestants — especially those who remained faithful to their authentic cultural tradition — questioned whether Miss Brady was even a real person, or a robot. Others came to the defense of Miss U.S.A., saying that she was an epitome of what the United States of America is all about. “Everything in America revolves around comic strips, Hollywood and Las Vegas-style circus,” they said, “so Ms. Brady’s costume accurately represents the good old US of A .”

The Adobo Chronicles learned from reliable sources that Ms. Brady almost didn’t make it in time for the competition because she was held for days at the Moscow airport, while security and customs officers inspected her unusually huge luggage which contained boxes and boxes of unassembled parts of her robot costume.

The finals of the Miss Universe Pageant will be held November 9 at the Crocus City Hall.