Emmanuelle Vera, the Philippines’ bet to Reina Hispanoamericana 2021, wore the same national costume that Maureen Wroblewitz had worn during the Miss Universe Philippines pageant last September.
Vera was one of the titleholders of the recently concluded Miss World Philippines last October 4.
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The 26-year-old singer-actress then had only a few weeks to prepare for the coronation night of the international pageant on October 30.
She flew to Bolivia on October 16.
In an Instagram post on October 25, Vera posted photos and videos of her outfit and performance for the National Costume round.
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She wrote in the caption that her costume represented the hardworking fisherfolk in the Philippines.
“So excited to share with you my national costume, or “traje típico” for @rhispanaoficial, designed by the talented @louispangilinan.ph to represent the hardworking Filipino fishermen who strive to thrive and succeed amid the increasingly tumultuous times,” Vera said.
“This opulent ensemble celebrates the strength and perseverance of the Filipino to overcome the difficulties they face, and represents hope for better times. (heart emoji) Mahal na mahal kita, Pilipinas! Ipaglalaban ko kayo,” she added.
Wroblewitz also previously wore the same outfit for the national costume segment of the recently concluded Miss Universe Philippines competition.
Similarly, she also stated in a Facebook post that the silver costume represented the hardworking fish traders of Pangasinan, the province she represented.
Wroblewitz, who was a fan favorite, also noted that the design was mainly inspired by Pangasinan’s famous milkfish or bangus.
“Miss Universe Philippines candidate Maureen Wroblewitz’s national costume is inspired by Pangasinan’s treasure, the bangus. Nestled by the sea and traversed by seven rivers, this national costume was designed to represent the hardworking fish traders of the province that thrive amidst the Pandemic,” the post read.
The beads and other details of the dress symbolizes the fine salt beds of the province.
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This impressive ensemble was designed by renowned local designer Louis Pangilinan.
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Vera wearing a previous candidate’s attire is “understandable” given the short period of preparations, according to a pageant blogger.
“This is a perfectly understandable move because our bet had barely two weeks of preparation for the pageant in Bolivia. Creating a new natcos from scratch would require a lot longer time than what can be possibly allowed,” blogger Norman wrote in his blog entry.
Reina Hispanoamericana is an annual beauty competition that celebrates Hispanic heritage, language and culture. It started in Sta. Ana, Bolivia in 1991.
The first Filipino who won in the competition is actress Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez in 2017.
