Today, January 14, 2023 (US time), Sunday in Manila, Filipinos all over the world are ecstatic about the exciting fight of their compatriot Celeste Cortesi in the Miss Universe contest being held in New Orleans.
Catriona Gray, 2018 Miss Universe has just given Celeste the spiritual boost for the rigorous race in the international beauty pageantry when the former got to New Orleans to meet up with her.
Janet Susan Rodriguez-Nepales, a Filipino journalist and member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA)—the organization which gives out the annual Golden Globe Awards—has recently exchanged good deeds and pleasantries with the Filipina beauty.
Meanwhile, Filipinos at home are eagerly awaiting the exciting proceedings by showering Cortesi with encouraging and inspiring words.
Rep. Angelica Natasha Co of BHW Party-list said that the Filipino legendary folk heroine Darna has inspired Celeste in wearing the supernatural character-designed suit.
“That national costume evokes strength, beauty, and woman power. My congratulations to Celeste and her team and the people behind them for a truly majestic presentation and performance! Celeste's ensembles in the preliminary round are perfection. We expect more from Celeste and her team during the pageant gala on Sunday. In our eyes, she is already a universal exemplar of what a woman is today,” noted Co.
Rep. Alfred de los Santos of Ang Probinsiyano Party-list has expressed his optimism and belief in the qualities of Cortesi as a woman and daughter to clinch the Miss U title.
Before Celeste embarked in her journey to the international stage of beauty contestants, she broke bread with her mom Maria Luisa Rabimbi-Cortesi, a Bicolana from Camarines Sur. It was a touching moment for the mother-daughter meeting which de los Santos said all Bicolanos and probinsiyanos (provincial) are proud of. “I am certain Celeste’s mom imparted to our Miss Philippines the Bicolana combination of courage, charisma, and compassion. All these attributes Celeste has presented with full Pinoy pride at the Miss Universe competitions.
“The compassion part is through her advocacy for children. The charisma part accounts for much of her beauty. While the courage aspect is visualized in her version of Darna and how she has steeled and composed herself throughout the competition and her reign as Miss Philippines–Universe.
“Her Filipino genes and heritage already give her global scope. That Celeste is the daughter of an Italian adds to her global appeal and personality, which means she could also interact well with the Europeans,” gushed the congressman.
Meanwhile, Janet Susan’s husband-journalist Ruben Nepales has visually captured special frames of Celeste and another Miss U contestant of Filipino descent, Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel. “Two amazing women, one Filipino-Italian and the other Filipino-American are competing for the Miss U 2022. Good luck to both,” exclaimed Ruben.