LAST Monday, India won its third Miss Universe title courtesy of 21-year-old Bollywood actress Harnaaz Sandhu while Miss Universe Philippines Beatrice Luigi Gomez nailed a spot in the Final 5, an outstanding feat considering 80 beauty delegates worldwide competed for the 70th Miss Universe Competition held in Eilat, Israel. But there were other Pinoys who shone on or off the Miss Universe stage.
Actress Marian Rivera who sat as a member of the selection committee during the preliminaries and televised finals.
Like Gomez, Marian wore an exquisitely beaded Francis Libiran gown, so much so that when she approached the Cebuana beauty queen on stage after the coronation to congratulate her for her feat, they looked like the last 2 candidates standing before the announcement of the winner.
Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco, who dresses up Hollywood and other A-lister celebrities, created a stunning creation for outgoing Miss Universe Andrea Meza’s final walk.
He also made the evening gowns of Miss USA Elle Smith for the preliminaries and finals.
Although relatively unknown, budding designer Kennedy Jhon Gasper from San Mateo, Isabela created the national costume of Miss Nigeria Maristella Okpala which won the Best National Costume award.
A Fashion Design student at Central Luzon State University, Gasper created the traditional masquerade attire of the southeastern Nigerian tribe that features the face of “Mmanwa” boldly crested on a mask and long cape of traditional African beads, stones and crafts.
Gasper is also known by pageant fans as the designer of Miss Cameroon’s national costume in the delayed edition of Miss Universe 2020 last May.
