Pasay City’s Celeste Cortesi is Miss Universe Philippines 2022! Who is she?
“If you could stop time for a day, how would you spend it?”–this was the question Cortesi picked during the top 5’s question and answer portion. To which she responded, “If I could stop time, I would spend it with my family, especially my mother. It’s been two years since I haven’t spent time with my family because they live in Italy, and I came here in the Philippines just by myself. If I had a chance to spend one day, I would definitely be with my mom, and I would just tell her how much I love her and I miss her.”
Cortesi took home the crown by Jewelmer, the La Meren Majeste (The Sea in Majesty). According to the organization, it “pays homage to her majesty, the sea for she is the queen of the elements.” It features Golden South Sea Pearls, the national gem of the Philippines and “a radiant symbol of the harmonious relationship between man and nature, capturing the very spirit of the Filipinos.”
Aside from the title, Cortesi also won the following awards in this year’s Miss Universe pageant:
- Best in Swimsuit
- Miss Photogenic
- Frontrow Best Arrival Look
- Miss Avana
- Miss Aqua Boracay awards
The latest titleholder is a 24-year-old Filipino-Italian model. She has a Filipina mother and an Italian father and was born on December 15, 1997, in Rome, Italy. This, however, is not her only pageant win as she was also crowned Miss Philippines Earth 2018. Cortesi went home to the country that year to compete in Miss Earth Philippines and placed in the Top 8 during the international pageant. She has also modeled for a couple of designers’ fashion shows both in Italy and the Philippines.
Cortesi succeeded Beatrice Luigi Gomez of Cebu City in one of the most anticipated beauty pageants in the country. She bested 31 other finalists yesterday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The pageant was hosted by beauty queens Pia Wurtzbach, Iris Mittenaere, and Demi-Leigh Tebow. The rest of the winners were:
- Michelle Dee (Makati) – Miss Universe Philippines Tourism
- Pauline Cucharo Amelinckx (Bohol) – Miss Universe Philippines Charity
- Annabelle MacDonnell (Misamis Oriental) – 1st runner up
- Ma. Katrina Llegado (Taguig) – 2nd runner up
Meanwhile, the panel of judges consists of:
- Francis Padua Papica
- Tonee Co See
- Atty. Margarita Gutierrez
- Richelle Singson Michael
- Harnaaz Sandhu
- Sam Verzosa
- Lia Andrea Moss
- RS Francisco
- Jennifer Olay
- Joshua Sorrentino
Cortesi is set to compete at the Miss Universe 2022 in December.
To know more about Celeste Cortesi, follow her on Instagram (@celeste_cortesi)!
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