By JAY PATAO
LAST YEAR, Filipinos proudly savored the feats of Filipina beauty queens who stormed the international pageant arena in historic fashion and showcased the innate beauty, grace and substance that world-class Pinays are made of.
Dressed up in shimmering evening gowns by internationally-acclaimed Filipino designers, they glided glamorously and impeccably on the world stage as the whole world watched and appreciated the Filipino’s fashion sense and style.
Bb. Pilipinas-Tourism 2014 Parul Shah wore a red streamlined silhouette with a flowing skirt at the 3rd Miss Supranational Pageant in Bangkok last October 25, a creation by Filipino-American designer Mark Bumgarner who discovered his passion for fashion after traveling the world as a race car driver. Parul finished as third runner-up and also won the Best National Costume award for a gold emsemble by award-winning designer Edwin Uy.
Bb. Pilipinas-International 2015 Janicel Lubina wore a shimmering white serpentine gown with a long tulle train at the 55th Miss International Pageant in Tokyo last November 5. The gown is a creation of award-winning couturier Leo Almodal, a veteran fashion designer who grew up in a family of dressmakers and tailors and who now caters to countries in North America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe. Janicel made it to as a top 10 finalist and won the Miss Best Dresser award (equivalent of Best in Evening Gown).
Almodal also dressed Miss Philippines-Earth 2015 Angelia Gabrena Ong at the 15th Miss Earth Pageant in Vienna, Austria last December 5. Angelia’s beaded champagne gown definitely helped her triumph as the third Pinay to win the coveted crown, succeeding another Filipina Jamie Herrell for a back-to-back victory by the country, a first in Miss Earth history. Ong also wore another Almodal creation for the preliminary long gown competition that earned her a bronze medal (third place).
Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational 2015 Rogelie Catacutan wore an elaborate black gown by Cebu’s top designer Cary Santiago at the 7th Miss Supranational Pageant in Poland en route making it as a top 20 finalist. Cary, who started drawing dress patterns before he went to school, has successfully made a name as a designer in Dubai and is now the go-to couturier of celebrities.
And last December 20 in Las Vegas, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach ended the country’s 42-year quest for its third Miss Universe title, winning the coveted crown in a “non-traditional”, yet unmistakable way. Pia was glamorous in a red-tomato creation by Bataan-born and now Los Angeles-based “red carpet” designer Oliver Tolentino during the pageant’s preliminary competitions last December 17.
At the finals on December 20, Pia was unmistakably a picture of poise and pulchritude in a royal blue satin creation by Albert Andrada who made a name internationally as the fashion designer of the ruling family of the Emirate of Fujairah (UAE) for 10 years. Now an established name in Manila, Andrada is now an established name in Manila and his royal credentials has rubbed on the latest toast of beauty queendom – Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.
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