Celeste Cortesi stuns as judge in Miss Universe Thailand pageant
Celeste Cortesi. Image: Instagram/@celeste_cortesi
Celeste Cortesi recently slayed as judge at the Miss Universe Thailand pageant, but some pageant enthusiasts couldn’t resist making broadsides at organizers of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant, suggesting that they didn’t sufficiently highlight her role here as a beauty queen.
Cortesi’s judging stint happened last Aug 20 were she was given the honor of crowning Anntonia Porsild as eventual winner of Miss Universe Thailand. Porsild was previously crowned Miss Supranational 2019.
“Couldn’t be more happier to join Miss Universe Thailand as one of your judges tonight with my sister @annscottkemmis and the candidates. Wishing all the girls the best of luck. To the Miss Universe Thailand organization and the entire Thai pageant fans community, Khob Khun Kha,” she wrote.
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However, the looks that Cortesi served during the pageant — including a body-hugging gown by Rian Fernandez — caught the eye of fans and fellow beauty queens, among them including Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel, Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Michelle Dee, Miss Universe Thailand 2021 Anchilee Scott-Kemmis, Evlin Khalifa, and Gazini Ganados.
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Images: Screengrab from Instagram/@celeste_cortesi
Some pageant fans noted that the Filipina-Italian stunner was “more recognized” in Thailand than her home country. Others pointed out that her recent pageant foray is “embarrassing” for the MUPh organization.
One @ronly_na wrote, “Buti pa MUT na appreciate ka, unlike sa MUPH hahaha mga walang kwenta (It’s a good thing MUT appreciates you unlike MUPH. They’re worth nothing).”
Another @kianzoned said, “@themissuniverseph bakit ang tahimik social media account nyu, di parin ba kayo proud na naging judge sa ibang bansa pambato natin last year (Why are your social media accounts silent? Are you not proud of her being a judge in a different country even if she won last year)? She deserves all these [spotlight]!”
Instagram user @renzmartin_ said, “Hi @themissuniverseph siya nga pala yung babaeng pinagkaitan niyo ng airtime (She’s the one who was robbed off airtime) during MUPH ’23 Coronation Night.”
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@celeste_cortesi
The Kapuso star, however, has yet to address the netizens’ comments, but thanked them nonetheless for their support.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@celeste_cortesi
Cortesi made an early exit from 2022 Miss Universe pageant, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA last January, ending the Philippines’ streak of placing in the semi-finals that began in 2010 with Venus Raj who finished 5th in the competition. The 2022 Miss Universe crown was eventually won by the Filipino-American Gabriel from Texas.
At the 2023 MUPH pageant last May, Cortesi took her final walk as reigning queen, but she wasn’t featured during the opening number and other portions of the coronation night.
On the other hand, former national titleholders Rabiya Mateo and Beatrice Luigi Gomez were notably included in the national tilt’s opening number, while the latter was even featured at a women empowerment-centered production, apart from their final walks. EDV
