Isa man sa mga litaw na litaw na sa naging preliminary round ng 71st Miss Universe nitong Huwebes, tila may nakahandang pasabog pa ang pambato ng Pilipinas na si Celeste Cortesi sa nalalapit na finale ngayong Linggo.
Ito ang kaniyang ibinahagi sa panayam ni ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo matapos hingan ng reaksyon ang mismong kandidata sa naging prelims performance.
“I was very blessed and grateful. I was really really happy. I was enjoying the moment, every single step,” nakangiti at halatang masayang saad ni Celeste.
Present din kasi ang kaniyang boyfriend at kaniyang ina sa New Orleans, Louisiana para suportahan ang beauty queen.
“I was looking for my mom, for my boyfriend but I couldn’t see anyone. But I could see [hear] the screams. It’s crazy,” ani Celeste gayunpaman.
Sa nalalapit na finale sa Linggo, Enero 15, tila may mga nakareserba pang pasabog ang Pinay beauty queen para sa lahat.
“Let’s see. Maybe I will change up something in my walk, in my posing. Let’s see how it’s gonna be. I’m very excited because this is it guys,” patikim ni Celeste sa fans.
Matatandaang sa naging prelims look ng Pinay candidate, kapansin-pansin na unang beses itong namataang nakalugay sa parehong swimsuit at evening gown round na bahagi pala ng estratehiya ng kaniyang team.
“We wanted to put my hair down since I’m always in a bun or I’m always very tight in my hair so I wanted to do a little bit different. Something very different. Something more relaxed,” pagbabahagi ni Celeste.
“For the finals, it would be different,” dagdag niya. “Totally different” ang kaniyang look at gown, pagpapatuloy at excited na saad pa niya.
Samantala nitong Biyernes, kinumpirma na mismo ni Miss Universe Organization (MUO) President Paula Shugart ang magiging format ng finals. Matapos ang anunsyo ng semifinalists o Top 16, sunod na aarangkada agad sa Final 5 na sasailalim sa “question and answer” round.
Sa huli, nagpaabot naman ng pasasalamat si Celeste sa masugid na Pinoy fans na patuloy na nagpapaabot sa kaniya ng suporta.
“Sometimes, I do read you and you give me so much love and support. Yesterday when I was walking onstage I could really feel you in the crowd. Thank you so much and I love you,” aniya.
Kung papalaring makoronahan, si Celeste ang magiging ikalimang Pinay Miss Universe titleholder.