Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 13) — Following the stellar performance of Celeste Cortesi during the preliminary round of Miss Universe 2022, one of the designers of her Darna national costume shared the meaning behind the head-turning piece.
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“If you will notice by history the costume of Darna is very simple so we want Darna to be shiny,” fashion and accessory designer Jerome Navarro told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Friday.
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“It’s the representation of the Philippines, shining through everywhere. The sun of the Philippines shining through everywhere,” he said.
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Cortesi’s iconic national costume was made by Navarro with designer Oliver Tolentino. The former was behind the piece’s metalwork accessories.
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Miss Universe Philippines director for communications Voltaire Tayag said they had to wait for the approval of the family of Mars Ravelo, the creator of Darna, before using the costume that is why finishing the piece took time.
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Navarro said he was given only 10 days to complete the metal details of the costume, with his craftsmen hammering the components 16 hours a day.
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In her first fitting, Navarro shared that several adjustments were made in the costume to make sure that Cortesi would be comfortable wearing it, specifically the big gold metal headpiece.
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However, the candidate was unable to fit the final costume in the Philippines since she had to fly to the United States mid-December.
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“Even up to the last minute, I had doubts that she will be wearing it considering she didn’t get to fit it here in the Philippines,” he said. “But of course, not just me, my whole family, my whole clan, was so happy when we found out, finally, it’s the Darna costume.”
In an interview on CNN Philippines, Miss Universe 2013 3rd runner up Ariella Arida said the Darna costume has always been one of the favorites of Filipino pageant fans.
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“I would always see comments that they would want to see a Darna costume and, for me, it wasn’t bad at all,” Arida told The Final Word.
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“Celeste strutted very nicely and well that time. I think Darna is only popular to us locally. Now, people would have a wonder-women-like version for us,” she added.
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Cortesi will be facing 85 other candidates in coronation night of the 71st edition of the Miss Universe. This will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana on Jan. 15 at 9 a.m., Philippine time.
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