Si Celeste Cortesi na kaya ang papasahan korona na hawak ngayon ni Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu ng India?
Umabot sa 85 beauty queens mula sa iba’t ibang bansa ang makakaharap ni Celeste para sa titulo ng Miss Universe 2022 ngayong araw.
Ang lakas ng naging dating ni Celeste sa preliminary competition na nakasama ang jowa (Matthew) at ina.
Pansin na pansin siya dahil sa mga sinuot kasama ang kanyang pagrampa na naka-Darna sa National Costume na last year lang pala na-grant ang permission. Matagal nang may clamor na ipakita sa universe ng ating kandidata si ‘Darna.’
Ayon sa statement ng designer na si Oliver Tolentino “For the national costume Celeste dressed as Darna, the popular Filipino superhero character that pageant fans have long wanted as the national costume, but for which permission to use wasn’t granted until just this year.
“Tolentino had to rush the costume when Team Philippines visited the designer’s boutique in Beverly Hills, California, upon Celeste’s arrival in the States. It wasn’t until then that they realized what they already had wasn’t working out.
“Tolentino normally doesn’t work with costumes, but he couldn’t refuse Celeste’s request for help. Because of all of the Christmas holidays and his own travel plans, Tolentino couldn’t source materials until January 2, just a day before Celeste was due in New Orleans. He took four days to create her look, using a headpiece and some other metal work accessories provided by Jerome Navarro,” ang nakasaad sa nasabing statement ng kampo ng designer kaya hindi pala last minute replacement ang nasabing costume katulad sa ilang kumalat na kuwento.
Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na sumagot si Oliver sa tawag ng pangangailangan ng pambato ng bansa sa Miss Universe competition.
Naalala pa ng pageant fans ang ginawa niya noong 2015 nang makatanggap siya ng tawag sa team ni Pia Wurtzbach habang siya noon ay nasa Aspen, Colorado at nag-snow skiing.
Wala raw maayos na gown noon si Pia, the day before the Miss Universe preliminaries, kaya’t agad-agad na nagpadala ng red gown si Oliver mula sa kanyang Beverly Hills boutique sa Las Vegas - and the rest is history. Pia wore the famous red “rescue” gown and advanced to the finals.
Anyway, bukod sa national costume, si Oliver din pala ang gumawa ng preliminary gown ni Celeste within a week’s time.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I pride myself on helping Filipinos on the international stage, whether it is actors, singers, or other high profile people, so they represent us well to the world. Naturally, when Celeste’s team asked for my help I dropped everything to make sure she would have what she needed to compete for the Philippines in Miss Universe,” he added.
Ito ‘yung blush blue gown made of a combination of tulle and heavily embellished French lace, accented with strips of Thai silk and thousands of crystals hand sewn on the gown. The gown features 2 see-through front slits and a godet featuring a butterfly pattern. “Celeste requested the color blue because it’s special to her. Celeste means Heavens in Italian and her father looked up at the sky when he was holding her and knew her name would be Celeste. She also requested a butterfly be incorporated in the design because she associates them as signs from her father. One appeared to her when she asked for a sign if she should join Miss Universe Philippines,” ayon pa sa statement ng designer na mahigit 100 Hollywood celebrities na ang nadamitan - from the Oscars, Globes, Emmys, Grammys, and other award shows.
Ayon pa sa statement, ang request for providing an option sa preliminary gown ng ating pambato ay nag-umpisa sa isang social dinner dito sa Manila pa kung saan nagkakilala ang designer at si Celeste habang nagtatrabaho ang una sa kanyang boutique.
At sa isang dinner nasabi raw ng team ni Celeste na meron silang mga option pero nararamdaman nilang wala pa ang perfect gown para sa ating kandidata.
At doon na raw kinuha ni Oliver ang ang mesurement nito at nag-suggest na puntahan nila ang kanyang Beverly Hills boutique pagdating doon.
Hinangaan ang nasabing gown dahil sa pagiging class na nadala perfectly ni Celeste.
Anyway, kilala rin si Oliver Tolentino bilang big promoter of Philippine fabrics on the international stage with celebrities like Carrie Underwood, Jessica Alba, Emmy Rossum, and Sophia Bush wearing his piña outfits.
Siya rin ang first designer to dress Oscar and Golden Globes nominees in piña tuxedos. Several of his creations are found in textile textbooks, and a piña and abaca gown of his was featured in Hong Kong Tatler.
Subaybayan ang 71st Miss Universe competition nang live mula sa USA sa Enero 15, 9 a.m. sa A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, Metro Channel, at iWantTFC.