Images: Facebook/Miss Universe, Instagram/@MissUniverse
Displaying her fiery spirit to win the Philippines’ 5th Miss Universe crown, Celeste Cortesi on Thursday sashayed with quiet confidence and grace at the pageant’s preliminary competition in New Orleans, Louisiana in the U.S.
Eighty-four candidates represented their respective countries at the Miss Universe pageant’s preliminaries on Thursday, Jan. 12. The pageant’s preliminary round includes the introduction, swimsuit, evening gown, and national costume competition.
Prior to the preliminary competition, the candidates showed off their wit at the pageant’s closed-door interview last Jan. 11.
The much-anticipated coronation night of the 71st Miss Universe will be held on Jan. 14 (morning of Jan. 15, Philippine Standard Time), where Harnaaz Sandhu of India will crown her successor.
Here’s a look at how Cortesi performed at the pageant’s preliminary round:
Introduction
Cortesi’s preliminary journey kicked off at the introduction round, as she introduced herself to the judges.
Swimsuit
The Filipina-Italian beauty queen then flaunted her curves in a pink two-piece swimsuit and a cape adorned with painted handprints. According to the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), the candidates were required to personalize a blank cape with designs related to their cause or the country they represent.
Cortesi’s cape was created during her experience at a Save the Children Philippines outreach event in Marawi City. She revealed in a statement via the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPh) organization that it was a piece that amplifies the “voices of the children who need our help.”
LOOK: Celeste Cortesi’s cape at the 71st Miss Universe swimsuit prelims was created during a Save the Children Philippines outreach in Marawi, Philippines. | @HMallorcaINQ pic.twitter.com/EHtIfAO3ij
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) January 12, 2023
The beauty queen shared that the cape’s design serves as a reminder that being a Miss Universe means to have a “purpose beyond myself.” She also said that the design made her look back at the time when her mother “struggled to provide for my sister and I.”
Evening Gown
Cortesi showed grace and poise in a sky blue evening gown created by Filipino designer Oliver Tolentino.
It can be recalled that Tolentino designed Pia Wurtzbach’s red preliminary evening gown when she represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant, where she eventually won.
Tolentino also shared a closer look of Cortesi’s evening gown on his personal Instagram account on the same day.
National Costume
Cortesi paid homage to the Filipina superhero Darna during the preliminary’s National Costume round. The costume was also designed by Tolentino, while the headpiece and metalwork were created by Jerome Navarro. EDV