Pia Wurtzbach. Image: Instagram/@bjpascual via @piawurtzbach
Pia Wurtzbach looked stunning during the Miss Universe Philippines coronation night, in four sets of gowns inspired by Filipino Miss Universe queens Gloria Diaz, Margie Moran, Catriona Gray and Wurtzbach herself.
The Miss Universe 2015 titleholder donned a white modern Filipiniana gown embellished with beads and feather-like details by Mark Bumgarner, as seen on her and celebrity photographer BJ Pascual’s Instagram pages yesterday, April 30.
“Last week, we shot all of [Pia Wurtzbach’s] outfits for tonight’s show — editorial style. 4 stylists, 4 designers, inspired by the 4 [Filipinas] who bagged the Miss Universe crown!” Pascual said.
“An ode to the white gown Gloria Diaz, the Philippines’ first Miss Universe, wore when she was asked in 1969 what would she do when the first man on the moon visited Manila,” Wurtzbach stated. “Today, this look is a message for every woman to be unafraid to reach for the moon and say yes to her dreams [and] new adventures.”
The beauty queen also showed herself in a yellow gown with corset details by Jaggy Glarino, which aims to “reinvent pageant swimsuit shots.”
“Taking cues from the iconic flower pinned on Margie Moran’s gown when she was crowned Miss Universe back in 1973, we want to showcase the woman in full bloom,” she stated.
Wurtzbach was also seen in her “signature color” blue cutout gown by Louis Pangilinan, which was “a homage to her DIC crown” which she won in 2015.
“We’re taking wearing the crown to the next level — not just on top of our heads, but as an embodiment of how every woman should be celebrated whatever size, shape or age she is,” she said.
Lastly, Wurtzbach was “Girl on Fire” as she wore a red high-slit cutout gown paired with red gloves, inspired by Catriona Gray’s winning color. The gown was designed by Gladi Echavarre and Atsuko Kudo.
“…we want every woman to feel like she is a phoenix rising who’s fierce, feminine, and fabulous in everything that she does,” Wurtzbach stated.
Wurtzbach served as one of the hosts of the Miss Universe Philippines finals night held at the Mall of Asia Arena, also yesterday. She was joined by Miss Universe titleholders Iris Mittenaere (2016) and Demi-Leigh Tebow (2017).
Celeste Cortesi of Pasay was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022 while Michelle Dee from Makati was named Miss Universe Philippines-Tourism, and Pauline Amelinckx from Bohol as Miss Universe Philippines-Charity. Annabelle MacDonnell from Misamis Oriental placed first runner-up and Katrina Llegado from Taguig was named second runner-up. JB
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