WATCH: Celeste Cortesi wows with acting, Tagalog-speaking skills in ‘Darna’ finale

Celeste Cortesi became a trending topic on Philippine Twitter after her surprise appearance in the final episode of Darna as the “Queen of Marte.” 

The country’s bet for the Miss Universe 2022 pageant wowed with her Tagalog-speaking skills on the show on Friday, Feb. 10 as the “Queen of Marte.” In the “super finale,” her character paid a visit to Darna (portrayed by Jane de Leon) to express her gratitude for her efforts in making the planet a better and safer place to live in.

“Nagtagumpay ka sa misyon mo. Tunay kang anak ng magiting na mandirigmang si Zorra, matapang at maaasahan. Nararapat kang maging protektor,” the "Queen of Marte" told Darna. 

“Maraming salamat sa mga sakripisyo mo. Dahil sa ginawa mo, nailigtas mo hindi lang ang mundo, kundi ang buong kalawakan,” she added. 

In an Instagram post, Cortesi talked about her role in the finale and how she was able to relate to the show's main character. "Just like Darna.. lumaban at patuloy na lalaban," she began.

"Taking on the role of Kevnar, the 'Queen of Marte' is definitely a new experience and challenge. Just like any other challenge, I take it as an opportunity to learn and grow. It is true that when one door closes, another one opens. It’s all about seizing the moment and being grateful for the chance to work hard and learn more about myself. Here is to new beginnings and to new adventures," she added as she thanked the network and the show for letting her be a part of its last episode.

The beauty queen’s Darna cameo came almost a month after the 75^th Miss Universe competition, which was held on Jan. 15. It's worth noting that she wore an ensemble inspired by the Philippines' iconic superhero—"a cultural icon that symbolizes kindness, empathy, and empowerment"—at the national costume segment of the tilt.

The Filipina-Italian model came to the Philippines for the first time in March 2018 with little knowledge of the country as well as its culture and language. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to her mother for introducing “the part of being Filipina” to her—something that she admittedly “ignored” for a long time and “felt sorry for.” 

While her being a Filipina has been questioned by some due to her remarkable Italian accent and inability to speak Tagalog fluently, she pointed out that the Filipino values that her mom taught her are what make her a “true Pinay.” Such include family-orientedness, respect for communities, and kindness for all.

Cortesi didn’t make it to the semi-final round of the Miss U 2022 tilt. Her performance put an end to the country's years-long streak of placing in the beauty pageant's semi-finals from 2010 to 2021.