Filipino designers dress up numerous Miss Universe 2018 candidates for preliminaries

FILE: “Prelims still feel like a dream. Thank you!” (Photo: @stepien.magdalena/Instagram)

Although Philippine candidate Catriona Gray made noise because of her ode to mythical bird Ibong Adarna through her Mak Tumang evening gown during the Miss Universe 2018 preliminaries last Thursday, December 13, six other candidates showcased the talents of Filipino designers by competing in evening dress creations by local artists.

Miss Ecuador, who was formerly a model in the Philippines and competed for her country in Miss World 2014, was dashing in a white column gown by Mark Bumgarner.

On the other hand, Miss Canada Marta Stepien wore a dazzling form-fitting Michael Cinco gown, the same designer who will dress her for finals night. Stepien posted a photo in the Cinco creation, which she flew all the way to Dubai to personally pick up, captioned, “Prelims still feel like a dream.

Thank you.”

The third beauty to have been spotted in a Filipino-made gown was Yuumi Kato, who is representing Japan. She was showstopping in a white ball gown by Joel Escober.

Kenya representative Wabaiya Kariuki wore Jian Lasala’s “masterpiece,” which is detailed with a sheer slit and cape.

Miss Nepal Manita Devkota also looked stunning with her sheer fringe detail by House of Bea Bianca.

With that, Estelle Curd from New Zealand also wowed the audience, with a sophisticated red glitter gown by Sidney Eculla, who is from Iloilo. Estelle shared a photo dressed in the creation, anticipating the grand finale on December 17. “We are just two sleeps away from the final night,” she shares, “ Its quite a strange feeling knowing that this journey is coming to an end. We’ve have 19 days together as a group, we’ve laughed (a lot) and cried and shared our fears, our dreams and our passions. But all good things must come to an end.”

These six ladies, along with Philippine representative Catriona, will battle it out at Impact, Muang Thong Thani in Bangkok, Thailand against 88 other ladies for the 67th Miss Universe crown, succeeding current Miss Universe 2017 Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters from South Africa.