LOOK: Philippines' Cyrille Payumo showcases salakot national costume at Miss Charm 2025
Filipina beauty queen Cyrille Payumo stomped the Miss Charm 2025 runway with her salakot-inspired national costume.
During the preliminary competition, the Philippines' bet showcased her national costume, evening gown, and swimsuit.
On Instagram, Cyrille shared a closer look at her salakot-inspired outfit, which she said was a tribute to the traditional headgear.
"Its wide brim served a purpose: protecting early Filipinos from the blazing sun and the pouring rain as they worked in farmlands, forests, and coastal areas. Over generations, this simple utility transformed into a cultural emblem—representing perseverance, community, and the quiet strength of the Filipino farmer," she wrote.
"This national costume celebrates that legacy. Rich brown and gold tones represent fertile earth and the prosperity of a bountiful harvest. Rice-grain embellishments and refined ornamental patterns echo the artistry of our agricultural heritage, while the headpiece takes inspiration from the traditional salakot, honoring its timeless role in rural life."
The ensemble, designed by Simeon Cayetano, features a gold beaded bodysuit, complete with matching golden gloves with embroidery details.
Her salakot headgear was also embellished with dripping beads.
On her back was a big structured piece that looked like rays of the sun. Finishing it off was a cape with an image of a smiling Pinay farmer.
Meanwhile, her evening gown was an ant-inspired garment, with figurines of the insect crawling all over it.
"When we started planning for Miss Charm, I told my designer, 'I wanted something meaningful. Something with strength.' And for days, nothing came. No spark. No vision," she shared.
Cyrille added that an ant suddenly bit her during a meeting, birthing her idea for her evening gown.
"Such a small thing, almost funny—but it felt like a sign. A reminder that greatness can rise from the smallest spark."
The beauty queen also highlighted how the ant symbolizes "hard work, discipline, unity, and quiet persistence."
Cyrille is vying for the title of Miss Charm 2025, who will be crowned in Vietnam on Dec. 12.
