Miss Universe PH Lapu-Lapu Sashi Chiesa maintains she paid Axel Que after designer called her out for nonpayment
Drama is brewing in the pageant world even after Miss Universe Philippines 2022 as Filipino designer Axel Que called out Miss Lapu-Lapu City Sashi Chiesa for allegedly failing to pay for her national costume.
Que posted about the issue on Facebook as a response to the beauty queen's mother, Chiesa Mariz, who accused the designer and her team from Origin Model Management of "scamming" Sashi.
On April 30, Mariz said her daughter Sashi received messages from the management team asking about their payment. According to her post, the costs for the beauty queen's national costume went from P20,000 to P40,000.
A photo of the breakdown of costs, which the mother shared in the comments section, showed the estimated summary of expenses for the national costume to be P20,000.
Mariz also alleged Que and her team of "threatening" and "blackmailing" that they'll report Sashi to the Miss Universe Philippines Organization.
For her part, Que said she reached out to Sashi through Messenger but was "seenzoned" when she would ask about the collection of payment.
"It came to a point where I really had to put my foot down. I informed Miss Lapu-Lapu City that if she doesn't respond to my messages, I will be compelled to reach out to the Miss Universe Organization to ask for the collection of both the balance and my costume," the designer said in a Facebook post, adding that she hoped to settle the matter privately.
She also highlighted that the P20,000 costume budget was an estimate and not the final rate.
Sashi broke her silence about the issue on May 1 evening, maintaining that she paid for her costume and that Que "just wants more."
"I'm 26 years old. I'm a straight-A student. I speak four languages. I know how to respect professionals. Do you really think I won't pay a designer for a gown?" she said in an Instagram story which she also posted on Facebook.
"I paid. He just wants more. And is bullying me for it," she added.
PhilSTAR L!fe has also reached out to Sashi Chiesa for further comment.
Sven Chua, managing director at Origin Model Management, said in a Facebook post that Mariz will be hearing from his legal counsel. "Please pay the natcos designer. We have receipts," he added.