LOOK: Celeste Cortesi's swimsuit prelims cape depicts multicolored handprints of children from Marawi
The cape that Miss Universe Philippines Celeste Cortesi wore during the international pageant's swimsuit preliminaries on Jan. 12 showed multicolored handprints of children from Marawi.
Cortesi wore a pink two-piece bikini that accentuated her figure and complemented her skin tone.
On the Miss Universe website, she says the cape was made during her Save the Children Philippines outreach program.
She believes in the importance of amplifying the voices of the children who need help, especially that millions of them even outside of Marawi are living in poverty.
"The handprints show the color and joy that children bring into this world," she says. "The help that we give not only provide basic needs, but it gives them the ability to dream and to hope."
Miss Universe Philippines organization on Instagram also shared photos of the children behind the handprints.
By taking the cape on the Miss Universe stage, Cortesi is hoping to inspire more people to help.
"There's much work to be done and every single person's help matters," she says. "Let's be part of their reason to play, to learn, to smile, to hope, and to dream."