FLY HIGH: Celeste Cortesi dresses up as Darna during the Miss Universe national costume segment
Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi dressed up as Darna during the national costume segment of the international pageant's preliminary stage.
Cortesi wore the Filipino superhero's classic red and gold two-piece attire, headgear, arm cuffs, and knee-high boots.
Her superhero costume also had its Miss Universe twist, in the form of a golden backpiece that's reminiscent of the Philippine flag's sun.
“Have no fear, ‘cause Darna is here!" Miss Universe Philippines wrote on Instagram.
The Filipina-Italian model's national costume was designed by Oliver Tolentino, who is also responsible for the evening gown she wore earlier.
Tolentino is a household name in the industry, having made dresses for local personalities like Regine Velasquez, Cherie Gil, Imelda Marcos, as well as international ones like Jessica Alba, Carrie Underwood, and Carrie Fisher.
Jerome Navarro, meanwhile, took care of the headpiece and other metalwork accessories. Hailing from Bulacan, Navarro also designed the phoenix brooch of Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados. His most recent work is during the Binibining Pilipinas 2022 Grand Santacruzan last May.
The main competition will be held on Jan. 14 (Jan. 15 Philippine time).
Darna has been given a renewed attention because of the Kapamilya channel's television adaptation, Mars Ravelo's Darna. It stars Jane De Leon as Narda/Darna, Joshua Garcia as her love interest Brian, Zaijian Jaranilla as her brother and loyal sidekick Ding, Janella Salvador as her serpentine nemesis Valentina, and Iza Calzado as her mother and the original Darna.
The Ravelo family, via series producer JRB Creative Production, gave Cortesi a shout-out for donning a Darna costume.
"The Ravelo family extends their full support, gratitude, and excitement for the opportunity to show Darna to a global audience," it said in a statement.
"We hope that, like our beloved Filipino superheroine, Celeste will continue to serve as a source of inspiration and empowerment for women all around the world."