Several 2022 Miss Universe candidates showed off gowns made by Filipino designers in the pageant’s preliminary competition.
On Wednesday night, nine delegates donned evening gowns made by Filipino fashion designers during the preliminary competition at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in Louisiana.
Miss Philippines Celeste Cortesi wore a crystal-embellished gown by Los Angeles-based fashion designer Oliver Tolentino. The color of the gown paid tribute to her father who gave her her name, which means “heavenly” and “sky blue” in Italian.
R’Bonney Gabriel of the U.S., who is the first Filipino American Miss Texas USA, sported a magenta dress with a detachable oversized cape shawl by Rian Fernandez.
Fernandez was also the designer for Cambodia’s Manita Hang, who wore a blue-and-purple gown that the Miss Universe Cambodia Organization said “represents royalty and serenity.” The dress combines a tailored suit and a fully beaded sheer skirt.
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Miss Universe Spain Alicia Faubel wore a bright red evening gown by San Juan City-based designer Ehrran Montoya. It is inspired by flamenco, a form of song and dance that is commonly associated with the Andalusian Roma of southern Spain. Faubel previously studied and worked as a model in the Philippines for three years.
Costume and fashion designer Carl Andrada created gowns for both Miss Universe Mauritius and Miss Universe Seychelles. Alexandrine Belle-Etoile of Mauritius donned a sparkly lavender-colored column gown with a sweetheart neckline.
Seychelles’ Gabriella Gonthier wore a golden gown with thousands of hand-sewn crystals and a sky-high slit.
Evlin Khalifa of Bahrain wore a sparkly Hijabi custom gown by Furne One Amato, a Filipino designer based in Dubai.
Designer Louis Pangilinan from Laguna, Philippines, designed the gowns of Maxine Formosa Gruppetta of Malta and Noky Simbani of Great Britain. Gruppetta flaunted a bright yellow crystallized dress with high slits, which Pangilinan said is “inspired from women’s passion and desire.”
Noky Simbani donned a form-fitting Viva Magenta gown that features hand-embellished beads, sequins and premium crystals that “signifies her source of empowerment to encourage all women to push themselves, seek adventure and be empowered in the workplace.”
The Miss Universe 2022, which will be the 71st Miss Universe Competition, will be held on Jan. 14 at 8:00 p.m. EST in New Orleans.
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