Philippine bet Ahtisa Manalo truly radiated like a goddess among humans during the evening gown segment of Miss Cosmo International 2024's "Jury Session."
This event, replacing the traditional "preliminary competition," took place on October 3, 2024, at White Palace Vo Van Kiet in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Ahtisa seemed to glide effortlessly on stage in her exquisite blue and gold evening gown, crafted by the acclaimed Filipino designer Mak Tumang.
Mak is also known for creating Catriona Gray's famous "Lava Gown" for Miss Universe 2018.
AHTISA'S GOWN INSPIRED BY LOTUS FLOWER
After the jury session, Mak shared the inspiration for Ahtisa's gown, explaining that it was modeled after the lotus floating on water.
In Vietnam, the lotus holds a special place as the national flower, representing purity, commitment, and optimism for the future, and is affectionately called the flower of the dawn.
Mak's Instagram post read: "'Challenging Traditional Expectations: Effortless, Shapeless, Goddess'
"Inspired by the image of a lotus floating on water, which is often regarded as a symbol of purity, strength, resilience, and rebirth.
"Lotuses emerge from the muck spotless, return to the murky water every evening, and bloom by dawn.
"The gown was crafted using a soft and flowy chiffon accentuated with a repousse brass metal.
"On this occasion, I allude to the Occam’s razor principle that “the simplest solution is almost always the best."
The 27-year-old beauty queen gracefully walked in high heels throughout the evening, despite still recovering from a sprained ankle caused by a stage incident last weekend.
Read: Ahtisa Manalo sprains ankle after Miss Cosmo "technical incident"
Following the evening gown segment, Ahtisa returned to the stage for the swimsuit round of the preliminary competition.
AHTISA ALL SET TO SPARKLE ON CORONATION NIGHT
The "Jury Session" will determine which contestants progress to the next round of the pageant, with a distinguished panel including former Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart; former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Ambassador of Vietnam Pham Quang Vinh; President and Chief Executive Officer of KC Global Media Entertainment George Chien; Miss Supranational 2022 2nd runner-up Nguyen Huynh Kim Duyen; and Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu.
A total of 56 beauty queens from all over the world will be competing in the pageant's grand coronation night set for October 5, 2024, at Saigon Riverside Park in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The event will be hosted by Miss International 2026 Kylie Verzosa, alongside Vietnamese host MC Duc Bao.
The judging panel on the finale night will also include Miss Universe 2018 runner-up H’Hen Nie.
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