Hindi mararanasan ni Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi ang Pasko at Bagong Taon sa Pilipinas dahil ngayong Biyernes ng gabi, December 16, ang biyahe niya papunta sa Los Angeles, California.
Ipagpapatuloy ni Celeste sa Amerika ang pag-eensayo niya sa para sa 71st Miss Universe, ang international beauty pageant na kanyang lalahukan at magaganap sa New Orleans Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, sa January 14, 2023.
Nagdiwang si Celeste ng 25th birthday kahapon, December 15.
Sa send-off party sa kanya, inalam ang posibleng sagot niya kung sakaling tanungin siya ng “Can you tell us why we should select you to be the next Miss Universe?” sa closed-door preliminary interview ng 71st Miss Universe.
Sagot ni Celeste: “I’ve always wanted to challenge the fact that a beauty queen has to look perfect. I never believe in that.
"I believe that a beauty queen doesn’t need to fit a certain standard. I believe that a beauty queen can be different because we’re still human being.
“And I’ve always wanted to join this competition with a purpose, being real, authentic and be relatable to people.
"I believe that I am not scared of showing my vulnerability and I’m not scared to talk about my experiences, especially my struggles.
“And I know that because of this kind of strength that I have, people can relate to me and that’s what I want.
"I believe that Miss Universe doesn’t have to be someone that is unreachable but someone that has to relate to people and I know that I am that kind of person."
Sa palagay namin ay kailangang bawasan ni Celeste angsagot niya para hindi maging paliguy-ligoy ang kanyang mga pahayag.
Samantala, ibinalita ng bagong may-ari ng Miss Universe, ang Thai businesswoman na si Anne Jakrajutatip, na nakatakda sa December 19 ang unveiling ng bagong korona ng Miss Universe sasa True Icon Hall ng Icon Siam, Bangkok, Thailand.
Nagkakahalaga umano ang bagong Miss Universe crown ng US$ 6 million.
Ipinagmalaki rin ni Anne na sold-out na ang tickets para sa coronation night at fully-booked na ang mga hotel sa New Orleans dahil sa dami ng mga manonood ng 71st Miss Universe sa susunod na buwan.