LOOK: Roberta Tamandong's dazzling national costume for Miss Grand International 2022 pays homage to first Pinay beauty queen
Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2022 Roberta Tamondong honors the first Filipina beauty queen for her national costume in the Miss Grand International competition.
Tamondong shared a glimpse of her look on Instagram, which is designed by Roman Sebastian. The gown is a structured work of art, filled with beads and lace in white, green, and gold. She also dons a headpiece with a crescent and sun-shaped topper and gold thigh-high boots.
"This work of art was made to introduce contemporary audiences to the original Pinay beauty queen, who created a new prototype for the modern Filipina. It was a set of diverse elements that was part of her journey to be the first miss manila queen of carnival," the beauty queen wrote.
Her costume was inspired by Purificacion Villanueva y Garcia, who was 22 years old when she was crowned the first "Queen of the Orient" during the first Manila Carnival in 1908. She also organized a suffrage group and wrote for the newspaper El Tiempo.
"I am hoping that I will follow in Pura's footsteps and become the first Filipina to win the Miss Grand International competition and receive the golden crown," Tamondong said.
Tamondong is currently in Jakarta, Indonesia, vying for the Miss Grand International crown. The National Costume portion of the competition was held on Oct. 20.
Miss Grand International 2022's coronation night is slated for Oct. 25 and will be available for streaming on the GrandTV YouTube channel.