Pia Wurtzbach honors fellow Filipino Miss Universe winners with her coronation night looks (Sabong News)

Pageants, local or international, have been a way to celebrate Filipino designers and artisans’ talents. Dressing candidates these days is more than just making them look suited for the crown. The pieces they wear must exude stories that reflect not just their personalities but also the culture and heritage of their hometown. This doesn’t only apply to the competing candidates, but to other personalities gracing the stage as well. The best example of this is Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach as she hosted the first live coronation night of Miss Universe Philippines last April 30 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. During the 2022 edition of the pageant, Pia donned looks created by Filipino fashion designers that paid homage to fellow Pinay Miss Universe winners Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Catriona Gray (2018). The pieces also presented the four colors of the Philippine flag, making them fit for a truly phenomenal Filipina. Here are the pieces she wore: Her first look for the night mirrored Gloria Diaz’s white evening gown when she won the Miss Univers crown in 1969. To interpret it, Pia worked with fashion designer Mark Bumgarner in creating a glimmering white frock with feather embellishments, a sweetheart neckline, a thigh-high slit, and a single butterfly sleeve. In the 1973 Miss Universe pageant, Margie Moran also wore a white frock, this time, adorned with colorful geometric designs with a flower bud as a finishing touch. That floral detail became the source of inspiration for Jaggy Glarino’s design. For her second look, Pia wowed the crowd with a yellow corseted ensemble that highlighted her physique. Pia’s third look was an ode to her own success story on the Miss Universe stage. Louis Pangilinan’s piece is inspired by her DIC crown in her signature blue color. The look was bold with its bare midriff and art deco aesthetic. Her final look served as a testament that there is no beef between Pia and the 2018 Miss Universe winner Catriona Gray. Much like Mak Tumang’s Lava Gown for Catriona, the look crafted by Galdi Echavarre and Atsuko Kudo is fiery, daring, and statement-making.