A Pinay beauty queen is currently making heads turn in the international pageant scene.
Philippine bet Kelley Day was a standout at the preliminaries of the Miss Eco International 2020 pageant, held on Friday night, April 2, 2021, at Baron Resort Sharm El Sheikh in South Sinai, Egypt.
The 24-year-old actress-model from Tarlac City looked amazing in her red national costume designed by Louis Pangilinan.
Later in the preliminary competition, Kelley bagged the Best in National Costume award.
In an Instagram post after the preliminary competition, Kelley thanked the team that helped her with her national costume.
This included her stylist Mikee Andrei and her glam team Jonas Lucas and Mila Gulfan, who taught her how to do her hairstyle and make-up for the national costume competition.
Kelley wrote, "Winning “Best National Costume” tonight just made me feel even MORE proud to be representing the Philippines.
"Thankful for all the hard work and creativity of the team that was behind this. [Philippine flag emoji]
"Thank you Miss Eco International for the recognition - this is for the Philippines! [three heart emojis]"
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Meanwhile, in an Instagram post on Saturday morning, April 3, 2021, Louis said the inspiration behind his national costume for Kelley is Maria Clara, the fictional heroine in Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere.
Louis wrote in the caption of his post, "With the country’s rich culture and history, the iconic attire of Philippines’ mestiza heroine named Maria Clara meets modern age.
"It’s a perfect spotlight for this traditional attire to be of style and fashion – the evidence of religiosity and spirituality of Filipinos into a Filipiniana Costume.
"The rapid increase of modernity had been welcomed this age. This national dress is embellished with hand painted art that can flamboyantly seen by far and fully hand-embroidered.
"Topping it with topical Maria Clara’s bell sleeves premeditated with beads and crystals.
"Accentuated with tassels made from fibers extracted by hand and worked into fine threads woven together in a loom that makes it one of the exciting styles today, in a unique and quintessential way.
"Summing up the fear of being outdated, the touch of modernity on this Maria Clara national attire still implies purity, innocence and devout - words that define a Modern Filipina.
"It was such an honor to wear this beautiful creation in the National Costume Competition of Miss Eco International."
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Kelley also gave a stunning performance during the evening gown competition, which took place during the preliminaries.
The Pinay beauty queen channeled Elsa of Frozen in her midnight blue gown by Mikee Andrei.
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The winner of the Miss Eco International 2020 will be determined on the pageant's grand coronation night on Easter Sunday, April 4.
Filipina beauty queen-turned-actress Cynthia Thomalla won the pioneer edition of the pageant in 2018.
Maureen Montagne, who represented the Philippines in 2019, finished first runner-up at the pageant's second edition.
Meanwhile, Roberta Ann "Ro-An" Tamondong was named Miss Eco Teen International 2020, on December 6, 2020.
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