Cindy Obeñita was every bit a modern-day Filipina goddess in her national costume for the Miss Intercontinental 2021.
The 25-year-old beauty queen from Cagayan de Oro wore a Diwata-themed national costume made by the Filipino fashion designer Odelon Simpao.
On Friday, October 22, 2021, Odelon took to Instagram to share the inspiration behind his creation.
He wrote, "Filipinos have long been in love with the enchantments of a DIWATA, a mythical goddess whose omnipotence can be likened to Egyptian deities.
"Across regional literatures in the Philippines, the character of a Diwata is almost always a mainstay narrative deep-rooted in the culture and daily life of the Filipino.
"Considered as guardian spirits of nature—from being protectors of the seas and oceans, rulers of the heavens and skies, and the keepers of the forests and mountains—the Diwata remains as a unifying mystical character in local and regional folklore that is a reflection of the distinct Filipino character and culture, wherever they may be."
Odelon also commended Cindy for showcasing more about the Filipino culture during the national costume presentation with her lilting Cariñosa movements.
He wrote, "In this national costume, Cinderella Obeñita also glides with Cariñosa movements, a Philippine folk dance in the Maria Clara suite.
"Her movements are choreographed by #TheHouse resident choreographer, Ronald Caron.
"Prominent in this ensemble is the prestigious color gold, which is a nod to the ancient history of the Philippines and its gold-producing culture, particularly in Mindanao where Cindy proudly comes from."
Toward the end of the post, Odelon thanked the other creatives and designers who helped bring his vision for Cindy to life.
Odelon wrote, "For these gold neck pieces, we collaborated with Mindanao’s crownmaker Tres Cartera and Ben Torres Metalcraft for the beaten brass component of this masterpiece and ALjethro Amorin Sebastian for the leaves fabric manipulation.
"On top of that, Cinderella wont be complete without her shoes. We collaborated with the international shoe maker Jose Joaquin Bragais to complete this art.
"The whole piece is symbolic of the fighting spirit of this contemporary goddess, the Filipina representative to the Miss Intercontinental 2021 who will bring to the competition what Filipinos are known for on the international stage: triumph and prestige."
Cindy is among the 44 candidates competing at the 49th edition of the Miss Intercontinental pageant.
The new winner will be named at the pageant's grand coronation night at the Sunrise Diamond Beach Resort in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt on October 30, 2021.