Why settle for one crowning moment when you can do four? Pia Wurtzbach does that and more!
In the 2022 Miss Universe Philippines competition last Saturday, the Miss Universe 2015 beauty queen took paying homage to another level by coming up with four looks inspired by the Filipina queens who were crowned as Miss Universe—herself included! Each look had its own meaning, with four stylists and four designers working with Pia to achieve a different look for every ensemble.
In her recent vlog, she shared all the nitty-gritty details with the help of the team—photographer BJ Pascual, creative director Eldzs Mejia, makeup artist Mickey See, and hairstylist Renz Pangilinan. Yes, they also had a shoot for all the looks!
According to her, the queens were not the only inspiration behind each ensemble. The designers also incorporated the colors of the Philippine flag into the shades of the gowns!
Here’s the breakdown of Pia’s looks from the shoot to the night of the event:
Look #1: The Modern Filipina Reaching New Heights
As the primer of all the looks that follow, the first gown was a modern take on the Filipiniana. According to stylist Adrianne Concepcion, the gown was a custom Mark Bumgarner design. It had intricate beadwork with the one-sided butterfly sleeve and the hem accentuated with ostrich feathers. Gloria Diaz wore a white gown when she was coronated as the 1969 Miss Universe, which was the inspiration behind the piece.
BJ pascual, meanwhile, mentioned that they took inspiration for Pia’s hairstyling from Richard Avedon’s shot of Kate Moss for Versace.
Look #2: The Modern Filipina Taking The Crown
Of course, Pia also had to celebrate her own win! Blue is indeed Pia’s color, and that is something stylists Team Rain x Em (Dagala and Em Millan) higlighted but with a twist.
As a queen, you are not just wearing the crown—you, too, are the crown and everything that it stands for. With that in mind, designer Louis Pangilinan came up with a two-piece empire gown with embellishments forming ancient art lines and patterns. Pia definitely transformed into the DIC crown atop her head in 2015!
Her glam team kept it simple by adding a subtle blue shadow to her lids and transforming her messy hair look to a sleek ponytail with an inverted triangle parting.
Look #3: The Modern Filipina Exuding Sexy Simplicity
For this look, Pia chose yellow as a symbol of sun and the stars in the Philippine flag. 1973 Miss Universe Margie Moran-Floreindo actually wore a white gown with a pink rose accent pin at the night of her victory, so flowers were used in the backdrop to give tribute to her look.
The gown has a swimwear silhouette which stylist Perry Tabora explained as a “sporty glam” look that came from the pictures of the official Miss Universe Queens. The past winners would be clad in swimwear for their official press photos. Pia added that the Jaggy Glarino design geared away from the usual, bedazzled gown with its contemporary layers and solid color.
There’s no other way to complete this whole style than to transform Pia’s hair and makeup into Beyoncé-like soft waves and dark, nude colors for her face.
Look #4: The Modern Filipina Forging Her Path
If Pia made blue her signature color, then who could forget how 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray wowed everyone with her red, Mak Tumang gown inspired by the Mayon Volcano? This time, Pia recreated Catriona’s famous ensemble with a sequined, sultry gown designed by Gladi Echavarre with latex gloves from Atsuko Kudo—giving a monochrome Jessica Rabbit vibe! Stylist Pam Quiñones pointed out that she and her team wanted something “slinky but also very sleek” with the look being liquid with all the cuts from the gown. They achieved this whole look with the help of Renz’s wet pushed-back hairstyle and Mickey’s choice of a burgundy lip color.
Watch the whole process of the shoot in Pia Wurtzbach’s and BJ Pascual’s respective vlogs.
Photography BJ PASCUAL
Creative Direction ELDZS MEJIA
Makeup MICKEY SEE
Hair RENZ PANGILINAN (assisted by ANGELU DOMINGUEZ and SHERWIN AMODIA)
(IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
Styling ADRIANNE CONCEPCION, Team Rain x Em RAIN DAGALA and EM MILLAN (TEAM RAIN X EM), PERRY TABORA and PAM QUIÑONES assisted by LEANNE LEDESMA and STEVEN CORALDE (QURATOR STUDIO)
Gowns MARK BUMGARNER, LOUIS PANGILINAN, MAISON GLARINO by JAGGY GLARINO and GLADEMIR ECHEVARRE
Gloves ATSUKO KUDO
Shoes MX STUDIO x JAGGY AND GIANVITO ROSSI
Jewelry DIAGOLD JEWELRY
Styling Assistants KRIS DE LEON, DODLEY GALLARDO, RIOLIZA CAMANTIGUE and ELAINE VILLAPANDO
Production Design JUSTINE ARCEGA-BUMANLAG, ADSET
Shot on location OKADA MANILA