Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi. Image: Instagram/@themissuniverseph
Celeste Cortesi is on her way to New Orleans, Louisiana in the United States to represent the Philippines at the 71st Miss Universe pageant on Jan. 14 (Jan. 15, 9 a.m. in Manila).
The Miss Universe Philippines 2022 titleholder looked stunning in a fiery red trench coat and red high-heeled boots, as seen in the official Instagram account of the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) organization on Wednesday, Jan. 4. Her pre-arrival look was put together by stylist Perry Tabora, hairstylist Renz Pangilinan, and makeup artist Mickey See.
The Filipina-Italian beauty queen was previously in Los Angeles, California in the U.S. for the final leg of her Miss Universe training before flying to Louisiana.
“Wearing FIERCE. @celeste_cortesi now travels to New Orleans for the Miss Universe Competition. [emoji] We are sending all the good energy your way,” MUPH’s post read.
Cortesi also took to her personal Instagram account to share her excitement about the Miss Universe pageant on the same day.
“This is it, Philippines! [Philippine flag emoji] Swipe for some smiles,” she wrote.
Fellow beauty queens Ayn Bernos (Miss Universe Philippines 2021 semi-finalist), Beatrice Gomez (Miss Universe Philippines 2021), Diana Mackey (Binibining Pilipinas – Nueva Ecija 2022), Pauline Amelinckx (Miss Universe Philippines 2022 – Charity), and Maureen Wroblewitz (Miss Universe Philippines 2021 1st runner-up) expressed their support for Cortesi, as seen in the comments section of her post.
“OMG LET’S GOOOOO,” Gomez said.
“[G]o get it, @celeste_cortesi,” Amelinckx wrote.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@celeste_cortesi
MUPH creative director Jonas Gaffud also shared a snap with Cortesi at the airport, alongside MUPH director of communications Voltaire Tayag on his Instagram Stories.
“On our way to New Orleans! #missuniversephilippines,” Gaffud said.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@jonasempire.ph
Cortesi is vying for the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe crown after Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018).
The upcoming 71st Miss Universe marks the first edition of the pageant under the Thai-owned conglomerate JKN Global Group. Harnaaz Sandhu of India will crown her successor at the end of the event. EDV