Celeste Cortesi. Image: Instagram/@celeste_cortesi
Celeste Cortesi is grateful for her time as Miss Universe Philippines 2022, saying her reign has transformed her into a “butterfly” that’s ready to take on greater heights.
The Filipina-Italian stunner, debuting her new shaggy bob, looked back at her journey as the reigning queen, through her Instagram account on Thursday, May 11, as she is set to pass her crown to her successor.
“We are a few days away from crowning the next Miss Universe Philippines. I can’t help but to reminisce [about] the entire journey that contributed to who I am today,” she began.
“From all the struggles and hardships to the overwhelming support of everyone which I am very thankful for, and of course the once in a lifetime opportunity to represent the Philippines [on] an international stage,” she further wrote.
Cortesi then compared her MUPh journey to a metamorphosizing butterfly as she spoke about achieving “self-discovery and empowerment” throughout her reign.
“I have always seen my journey as a beauty queen similar to the transformation of a butterfly. Like the butterfly’s metamorphosis, this entire experience has led me towards self-discovery and empowerment. This butterfly is ready to spread her wings and to take flight to greater heights,” she said.
The titleholder’s post earned the support of her fellow beauty queens including Kathleen Paton, Michelle Dee, Gazini Ganados, Katrina Llegado and Samantha Bernardo, as seen in the comments in her post.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@celeste_cortesi
Cortesi appeared to have debuted her short haircut during the national pageant’s thanksgiving gala on Wednesday, May 10, as shown in a separate post, which also showed her sporting a revealing polka-dotted gown.
Cortesi will pass on her crown to her successor at the Miss Universe Philippines 2023 coronation night on Saturday, May 13, at the Mall of Asia Arena. /ra