MANILA, Philippines — How did a gown that had been “missing” since 2015 reach Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados?
It can be recalled that international Filipino designer Lesley Mobo recently posted on Facebook a series of screenshots with captions saying how surprised he was to see one of his creations, which he had been looking for since 2015, resurfaced in 2019 on the Instagram post of Gazini.
“What would u do if u…find your missing archive dress suddenly being worn by a beauty queen and u’r not even aware of it…and not even credited. I think she looks good on it… been looking for it since 2015 (how it landed there?). how can I get it back? should I buy it back? can I even buy it back?” Lesley wrote in the caption.
The London-based designer said in another post that he also received a screenshot of his “missing” dress being sold in an online store without his consent.
“Omg someone just sent this to me..someone out there is letting or selling this gown? But with a retail price? How come? Hindi naman for sale ang damit? What website is this please! Can I buy it privately?” Lesley said.
The red sequined dress was reportedly a part of the designer’s Red Charity Gala collection, shown in a Manila fashion show last 2015.
According to Lesley, the gown was borrowed for a photo shoot after the show and was never returned.
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Gazini posted the photo of her wearing the dress last July 29 in her Instagram account with the caption, “Maayong Buntag!”
She credited BJ Pascual for the photo, Anthea Bueno for the makeup, Aries Manal for hair and Qurator Studio and Pam Quiñones for the styling.
In an exclusive interview with Philstar.com during the Binibining Pilipinas 2019 queens’ Dairy Queen outreach activity in Philippine Children's Medical Center on Thursday, Gazini explained how the gown landed on her.
“I had it with Anthea Bueno and BJ Pascual and my stylist for that was Pam Quinones,” she said of the photo shoot where she wore the dress.
According to the Cebuana beauty, she already asked her stylist about the dress.
“It’s about her and the designer having a miscommunication about the gown. And the designer forgot that he gave it to my stylist,” Gazini shared.
“That’s her reason and I didn’t know anything about the gown,” she clarified.
Mobo has reportedly deleted his posts as he has been in touch with Quinones following the incident.
Gazini is set to compete in Miss Universe to be tentatively held on December 19 in South Korea.
During the Binibining Pilipinas 2019 coronation night last June, she wore a pink gown with a plunging neckline designed by fellow Cebuano, Cary Santiago.