Maria Harfanti is the new Miss Indonesia

Jogjakarta beauty Maria Harfanti is the new Miss Indonesia. Maria Harfanti, 23 years of age, beat 33 candidates and clinched the crown in the pageant held last February 16, 2015 in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

She was crowned by reigning Miss World Rolene Strauss and Miss World Indonesia 2014 Maria Asteria Sastrayu Rahajeng. Congratulations, Maria! Selamat dan sukses untuk anda!

Janine Tugonon walks for New York Fashion Week

A blonde Janine Tugonon walked for New York Fashion Week. Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner-up Janine Tugonon opened the fashion show for clothing brand Mr. Triple X at the Lincoln Center Theater last February 19, 2015.

Designed by Erik Rosete, the collection entitled ‘All X in Wonderland’ was presented to buyers and the media during the fashion show. The brand Mr. Triple X is known as a high-end streetwear with an edge, designed for the inner rockstar in everyone.  

Erik Rosete of Mr. Triple X

Miss World Rolene Strauss opens new hospital ward in the Philippines

Miss World 2014 Rolene Strauss officially opened the new cancer ward at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila. The ribbon cutting and opening ceremonies were held last February 18, 2015 with Miss World Rolene Strauss as the guest of honor. She was accompanied by Miss World Chair Julia Morley, Miss World 2013 Megan Young, Miss World Philippines 2014 Valerie Weigmann, and Miss World Philippines National Director Cory Quirino during the event.

Back in June 2014, then Miss World Megan Young attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the PGH pediatric hematology-oncology ward and this time another reigning Miss World beauty graced the official ceremonies for its opening.

In a post on her Instagram account, the South African beauty shared how she was warmly welcomed by the Filipina beauty queens.

“What a warm welcome from The Philippine Queens – @meganbata and @vweigmann. You are the sweetest,” she said.

From left to right: Miss World Philippines 2014 Valerie Weigmann, Miss World 2014 Rolene Strauss, and Miss World 2013 Megan Young

Thank you for visiting the Philippines, Rolene! Mabuhay!

Miss World Rolene Strauss with the children who will benefit from the new ward

Katy Perry wears Furne One in her music video "Wide Awake"

Filipino designer Furne One with Katy Perry

Let’s rewind to 2012. For the music video of her song “Wide Awake” Katy Perry was seen wearing a fabulous gown made by Filipino designer Furne One.

Furne One’s creation for Katy Perry is a futuristic beige gown adorned with butterflies. Furne says the gown is inspired by gothic glamour and cosmic mysticism and it displays female strength and power.

Born in Cebu and currently based in Dubai, Furne One is the creator of the Amato Haute Couture label.

His advice to Pinoy designers: “Nothing is impossible. Just have the vision and determination, and believe in yourself.”

If you want to see Furne One’s gown on Katy Perry in motion I suggest you watch the music video. Check out 2:10. 

Congrats again, Furne One and the Amato Haute Couture team, for bringing Filipino design ingenuity to mainstream pop.

Apl.de.Ap​ and Nicole Scherzinger in Intramuros, Manila

Filipino-American singers Apl.de.Ap​ and Nicole Scherzinger​ getting in touch with their Pinoy roots. Here is a snapshot of them while they toured Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila​ this February 2015. Nicole is currently in the Philippines to do charity work for UNICEF. She's also doing some private engagements on the side.

Did you guys notice how fair Apl.de.Ap's legs are? Lol

ProudlyFilipinoMade National Costume Design Contest

Are you an aspiring fashion designer?

ProudlyFilipinoMade (aka Filipino-made national costume & evening gown for Miss Philippines) is inviting you to join our contest and have a chance to showcase your talent to a bigger audience.

PROUDLYFILIPINOMADE NATIONAL COSTUME DESIGN CONTEST

ELIGIBILITY

* Contest is open to all Filipino netizens – male, female and those in between

HOW TO JOIN

** Create a Facebook account and like the ProudlyFilipinoMade Facebook page (This is necessary so we can tag your entry)

** Submit a sketch of an ORIGINAL national costume design you created which you deem is the best and strongest representation of what it means to be Filipino

** All entries must have the following information:

Name of designer

City and country of residence

Title of design

** Entries could be in either .jpg or .png format. Please be mindful of the resolution of the copy you will submit so that everyone can appreciate your design to the fullest.

** The words “ProudlyFilipinoMade” (no spaces), title of the design, and name of designer should be visible in each entry

** Each designer can submit an unlimited number of designs

** Approved entries will be posted on the ProudlyFilipinoMade page

** Designers will receive a message notifying them that their entry has been accepted afterwards they can proceed promoting their entries for the Facebook voting portion. While Facebook voting is ongoing designs will also be graded by a panel composed of people who are currently working in the fashion design industry

** Designs will be judged upon the following criteria: Creativity (30%), cultural relevance (10%), wow factor (30%), and Facebook voting (30%) – for a total of 100%

** Four runners up will be announced and one winner will be awarded the grand prize

THE PRIZE

The grand prize winner will receive a bottle of limited edition manila ion fragrance

The grand prize winner and runners up will be featured on the ProudlyFilipinoMade blog and ProudlyFilipinoMade Facebook page

SCHEDULE OF THE CONTEST

April 5       Deadline for submission of designs
April 21     Last day for online voting, Judging
April 22     Announcement of winners

Get your creative juices flowing and start sketching now. Good luck! :)

Mila Kunis wears Michael Cinco in Jupiter Ascending

Filipino designer Michael Cinco’s gown was worn by actress Mila Kunis in the Hollywood movie Jupiter Ascending.

 

Mila Kunis wearing Michael Cinco

Michael Cinco, who’s based in Dubai, did three costumes worn by some of the characters in the movie. Mila Kunis wore the most elaborate of Cinco's creations in the movie's wedding scene – a white dress made of tulle and adorned with ceramic roses and comes with an elaborate floral headpiece.

According to the Pinoy fashion designer, he was commissioned by the film's costume designer Kym Barrett who shortlisted six dresses and eventually picked three. All the dresses were made in Dubai. Michael has dressed international music artists Lady Gaga, Paloma Faith, Christina Aguilera, and Jennifer Lopez.

Michael Cinco is a Dubai-based Filipino designer

Jupiter Ascending is a 2015 sci-fi movie which stars Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Eddie Redmayne, and Douglas Booth; directed by Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski.

Who among our 2014 Big 4 Queens wore the best national costume?

Who among our 2014 Big 4 Queens wore the best national costume?

Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell is wearing a white Filipiniana dress created by Malayka Yamas while holding a Sto. Niño statue reminiscent of her Cebu festival heritage.

Miss World Philippines 2014 Valerie Weigmann is wearing an ethnic creation by Ivan Raborar and Jesson Capuchino inspired by the regal T'boli women of South Cotabato. The T’boli Hegalong guitar accessory completes the look.

Miss Universe Philippines 2014 Mary Jean Lastimosa is wearing a flowery costume executed by Colombian designer Alfredo Barraza. The costume was inspired by Panagbenga, the annual flower festival of Baguio City.

Miss International Philippines 2014 Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti is wearing a Muslim-inspired national costume with an elaborate headpiece.

Who do you think wore the best national costume?

Thanks to ABS-CBN's The Buzz for featuring our Facebook page

Thank you so much to ABS-CBN's The Buzz for briefly featuring our Facebook page 'Filipino-made national costume & evening gown for Miss Philippines.'

The feature happened last February 1, 2015 during the interview with Miss Universe Philippines Mary Jean Lastimosa. 

Unfortunately the much-anticipated issue about the national costume was never brought up during the interview with MJ.

Here's a screenshot of the feature. Once again to the management and staff of The Buzz, maraming salamat! :)

Miss Universe Philippines queens Disneyfied

Our beautiful Miss Universe Philippines queens Disneyfied. Clockwise from front left Ara Arida, Shamcey Supsup, Janine Tugonon, Venus Raj, and Mary Jean Lastimosa. Sinong pinakabagay maging Disney character sa kanilang lima?

Nina Ricci Alagao and her golden lampshade national costume

Miss Universe Philippines 2000 Nina Ricci Alagao’s national costume for the Miss Universe pageant in Cyprus was a metallic gold gown with an ethnic cut. She also sported a revised 'salakot' (traditional wide-brimmed hat) which looks quite deformed and culturally incoherent. Many criticized the national costume made by Colombian designer Alfredo Barraza saying Nina Ricci looked like a golden LAMPSHADE.

If you were to rate Nina Ricci's national costume from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest), what score will you give?

Miss Universe Australia's national costume competition

Miss Universe Australia 2014 Tegan Martin

Miss Universe Australia organization in cooperation with Elucent Skincare by Ego holds an annual national costume competition wherein the winning design will be worn by the reigning Miss Universe Australia to the Miss Universe pageant.

Every year designers all over Australia are invited to submit their designs then a committee of experts choose 4 finalists. Afterwards public voting is done to determine the winning design which Australians deem is the best and strongest representation of what it means to be Australian.

The designer of the winning national costume is rewarded with roundtrip flights to the Miss Universe pageant to see their design worn on stage plus 5 nights accommodation courtesy of Delta Airlines. This and the opportunity to showcase his/her talent on an international platform with around 1 billion people watching the pageant worldwide.

Here are the 4 finalists of the Elucent Skincare National Costume Competition in 2014 (from left to right)

1]  Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin-inspired national costume by designer Freda Diak

2]  Sydney Opera House-inspired winged national costume with a sash to reflect the monarchy by designer Lorelee Prentice

3]  National costume inspired by two key sources, corrugated iron (to represent determination in the harsh climate) and national Australian flowers (to represent the people of Australia – varied and colorful) by designer Christopher Ditas

4]  Aboriginal Dreamtime sunset national costume (with permission granted by the Wurundjeri tribe) by designer Caitlin Holstock

If you watched the last Miss Universe pageant surely you know which among these four finalists won the competition and was worn by Miss Australia Tegan Martin in Doral.

Sa inyong palagay pwede ba nating gawin sa Pilipinas ang ganitong proseso ng pagpili ng national costume para sa ating Miss Philippines? Kung gagawin ito ng Bb. Pilipinas mabibigyan ng level playing field ang mga batikang designer at mga baguhang designer... talento ang mananaig upang ang pinakamahusay na disenyo na GAWANG PILIPINO ang gagamitin ng ating kandidata. Ang Bb. Pilipinas organization ay may partnership na with Philippine Airlines, kayang kaya din bigyan ng roundtrip tickets ang designer na mananalo sa contest. Your thoughts?

Hunk cop Neil Perez from the Philippines is the new Mister International

Hunk cop Neil Perez from the Philippines is the new Mister International.

Neil was in tears as he received his sash and award during the pageant’s finals held on February 14, 2015 in Seoul, South Korea.

Neil used an interpreter to answer the question, “What has been your biggest disappointment in life?”

“Unang-una ang aking disappointment sa aking buhay ay ang ‘di ko pag galang sa magulang ko. Kaya ko pinagsisihan ito dahil malaking bagay ang mahalin natin ang ating magulang dahil siya ang pangalawang utos ng Diyos para sa ating mga Katoliko,” Neil replied.

Neil dedicates his victory to his fellow policemen, the #Fallen44, whose lives were lost in the deadly Mamasapano incident.

Here is the complete list of finalists.

Winner: Neil Perez - Philippines

1st RU: Rabih El Zein - Lebanon

2nd RU: Tomáš Dumbrovský - Czech Republic

3rd RU : Rafał Maślak - Poland

4rd RU: Mitja Nadizar - Slovenia

Top 10 Finalists:

Matheus Martins - Brazil

Masakazu Hashimoto - Japan

Youngho Park - Korea

Alejandro Valencia - Mexico

Vittawat Srikes - Thailand

Top 15 Finalists:

David Angel - Colombia

Richard Johnson - Guam

Kevin Hendrawan - Indonesia

Aung Chan Mya - Myanmar

Christian Ortiz - Puerto Rico

Special Awards

Most Stylish Award: Youngho Park - Korea

Mister Congeniality: David Angel - Colombia

Mister Photogenic: Masakazu Hashimoto - Japan

Best National Costume: Shi Yu Quan - China

Janine Tugonon and her Maranao princess national costume

Miss Philippines Janine Tugonon wore a Maranao-inspired national costume for the Miss Universe 2012 pageant held in Las Vegas, USA.

It is a gown meant to be worn by a princess and indeed Janine looked every bit of royalty. The costume's sheer material allows a peak into Janine sexy silhouette. The silver beadwork is elegant and regal. To complete the look Janine also wears a sash, a crown, and a cape which allowed her to do a playful presentation onstage.

This costume was executed by Filipino designer Pitoy Moreno.