OWNING the stage! š¤©
Tune in NOW to the 71st #MISSUNIVERSE Preliminary Competition airing LIVE on the official YouTube channel. pic.twitter.com/sLOFeODK6v
— Miss Universe (@MissUniverse) January 12, 2023
The Miss Universe Philippines Organization explained the story behind her glistening blue gown.
“In the poem her father wrote for her, he writes that when he was holding her in his arms he knew her name would be Celeste. Celeste means heavenly and sky blue in Italian,” it said in a social media post.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 12) ā Celeste Cortesi, the Philippinesā bet to the 71st Miss Universe, sparkled during the evening gown portion of the preliminary competition of the pageant on Thursday (Philippine time).
Several netizens were in awe of her gown and performance during the pre-coronation competition.
The 25-year-old Filipino-Italian beauty wore a bedazzled yet subtle sky blue strapless gown crafted by renowned Los Angeles-based Filipino designer Oliver Tolentino, who will also design Cortesiās final gown.
“Celeste Cortesiās blue gown for the blue crown, Blue is her color! š “one netizen wrote.
Another Twitter user said, “Celeste single-handedly won the night with that evening gown performance/ ensemble. Go Celeste! Go Philippines!”
Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu, who cohosted the preliminaries, described Cortesi as someone who enjoys traveling to learn new languages and who proudly supports a mental health organization that provides therapy to those in need.
If Cortesi wins, she will be the countryās fifth Miss Universe after Catriona Gray in 2018.
