Filipino fashion designer Leo Almodal and Miss Grand International first runner-up, Philippines’ CJ Opiaza. Image: Instagram/@leoalmodal; screengrab from YouTube/GrandTV
Filipino fashion designer Leo Almodal gave his two cents on Philippine bet and Miss Grand International 2024 first runner-up CJ Opiaza’s evening gown, pointing out how the dress supposedly did not accentuate the beauty queen’s physique.
Opiaza donned an embellished silver cutout dress with hints of rose gold beads, designed by Filipino fashion designer Mak Tumang.
“Whoever designed CJ’s gown… First of all, I am very forgiving and easily pleased with other designer’s work but her dress is wrong in so many aspects,” Almodal said in a now-deleted post on his Facebook page.
“Una, nagmukhang flat ang dibdib. Anong nangyari? Pwede naman maglagay ng seamless pads,” he stated. (First, her chest looked flat. What happened? They could have used seamless pads.)
Almodal also noted that the “torso looked long and straight. “Nawala curves ni CJ dahil mali ang patterns ng lines. Nagmukhang tuod.” (CJ’s curves weren’t visible because the patterns of the lines were unsuitable. She looked like a tree stump.)
“The design should emphasize and enhance the curves, and not the other way around,” he added.
Almodal further pointed out that the gown was not long enough which, he guessed, might be the reason why Opiaza opted for short heels.
“Para hindi bitin tingnan? [Nagmukha] siyang pandak itabi sa ibang candidates (So that the gown wouldn’t look short? Opiaza looked shorter beside other candidates),” he said, also stating that the gown’s rose gold belt “came out of nowhere” and was “out of place.”
Image: Facebook/Leo Almodal
Tumang, Opiaza or even the Miss Grand Philippines organization have yet to comment on Almodal’s remarks as of this writing.
Meanwhile, Almodal’s creation was also featured in the Miss Grand International as he crafted Miss Grand Colombia’s gown at the preliminary competition.
Rachel Gupta of India clinched the crown at the Miss Grand International finals night held in Thailand on Friday, Oct. 25.