MJ Lastimosa’s Binibining Pilipinas 2025 look an ode to her Miss Universe gown
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MJ Lastimosa. Images: Facebook/Miss Universe, Binibining Pilipinas
Taking a trip down memory lane, MJ Lastimosa delighted pageant fans with a sultry tribute to her Miss Universe 2014 gown when she hosted the Binibining Pilipinas 2025 grand coronation night on Sunday.
Lastimosa, who represented the Philippines in Miss Universe 2014, graced the evening gown competition in a white lace gown by Colombian designer Alfredo Barraza. The gown, which featured a mermaid cut and was adorned with flower-shaped paillettes, was considered controversial by fans at the time.
Eleven years after her Miss Universe stint, Lastimosa showed up in the national competition wearing another white lace number but seemingly sexier with strategic cut-outs and sheer skirt.
While it is unknown if the white gown was also created by Barraza, the gown had a similar mermaid style, except that it had a bra-like top.
Moments after the pageant, Lastimosa jokingly described her look as a “comeback” while resharing a fan’s observation on her Facebook page.
Image: Screengrab Facebook/MJ Lastimosa
Other fans and pageant content creators pointed out Lastimosa’s “reinvented” version of her Miss Universe gown, with some noting it as a form of “redemption.”
Image: Screengrab from X/@sleeeyh
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@misseltocuyoaward
Lastimosa ended her Miss Universe 2014 journey in the Top 10. At the time, her white evening gown and flower-decked national costume (also designed by Barraza) were considered by fans and critics as one of the reasons behind her loss.
Others also pointed out that the beauty queen allegedly wore a Leo Almodal gown during the rehearsals for the Miss Universe 2014 tilt, but didn’t make it to the coronation night.
The controversial evening gown was addressed by the beauty queen in multiple interviews, where she said that her “confidently beautiful” aura makes her look good in anything that she wears.
“I would wear anything kasi I’m confidently beautiful… Sabi ko, kahit ano, kahit anong suotin ko sa stage na yan, kahit mamantsahan man at mantel na lang ang pasuot niyo sa ‘kin, I’m gonna rock it,” she said in 24 Oras interview in 2015.
Years later, many netizens still make humorous references to her Miss Universe gowns, which Lastimosa had since taken in stride. /edv
