Celeste Cortesi welcomes first child

Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi has welcomed her first child.

The beauty queen announced the news in a now-deleted Instagram post on Oct. 27, sharing a glimpse of her newborn resting beside her arm.

“So precious, baby S,” she captioned the post.

Her former partner, British businessman Jonathan Sterling, reshared the post on his Instagram story, praising Cortesi for her strength after staying by her side through more than 20 hours of labor. He also expressed his happiness over their son's arrival.

“So proud of @celeste_cortesi and how far she's come on her journey. Staying with her through more than 20 hours of labor showed me just how strong of a woman she is," he wrote. "So so happy to welcome baby S into the new world." 

Cortesi announced her pregnancy in April by sharing a silhouette photo of her baby bump alongside a sonogram. She later revealed that she was expecting a boy and would name him Sergio, describing him as her “little piece from heaven” in a tribute to her late father.

The new mom previously opened up about the emotional and physical challenges she experienced throughout her pregnancy. In an October Instagram post, she shared that she experienced sadness, anxiety, depression, and loneliness while navigating hormonal changes and the physical demands of pregnancy.

Despite these struggles, Cortesi said the experience helped her discover a strength she did not know she had. “I have such deep respect for all moms out there,” she wrote. “Baby S has been growing inside me while, in so many ways, I have been growing too.”

Cortesi and Sterling made their relationship public in August 2020. They confirmed their separation in September this year, stressing that they will always put their baby first.

Cortesi represented the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2022 pageant after winning the Miss Universe Philippines crown that year. She has since pursued acting and is part of GMA Network’s Sparkle talent roster.