After Miss Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa's national attire got criticisms online, an explanation was given by Stella Araneta, the chairperson of Bb. Pilipinas beauty pageant, which is responsible for sending the Miss Universe candidate from the Philippines.
The costume is a floral piece was designed by Colombian designer Alfredo Barraza, which was inspired by the festive celebration of the Philippines' Flower Festival, according to the Rappler.
Araneta herself is a beauty titlist having won Miss Colombia 1959 and Miss International 1960 and landed Top 15 in Miss Universe 1960.
In an interview by TV Patrol on Jan. 24, Araneta said that she has been working with Barraza Miss Philippines Miriam Quiambao won Miss Universe 1999 first runner-up. She explained that a national costume is never about its degree of authenticity but its intensity of artistic expression.
Moreover, Araneta explained why she has not been getting Filipino designers' works recently saying she did not do it for a couple of years because "the Filipino designers' works were not good enough for the candidates."
Meanwhile, Style and Design Academy of Manila's Cathy Binag said via Rappler that Araneta must also give Filipino designers the opportunity of dressing a Bb. Pilipinas representative in international pageants.
"We join in the call, and the challenge, for BPCI and Stella Araneta to allow Filipino designer dress beauty queens under its franchise," Binag said. "These beautiful and intelligent women deserve only the best and they can only get this from our local talents.And to echo Cary Santiago, these contestants are, after all, representatives of the Philippines, not Colombia."
Even if she has already committed to having the Barraza outfit for Miss Philippines in this year's Miss Universe coronation night, a commitment she's had since 2001, Madamme Araneta said that she remains open to welcoming Filipino designers to create the country's evening gown and national costume entries for international pageants.dee