It's confirmed: The two international Filipino fashion designers will be dressing Rabiya for the pageant
With only days away from the Miss Universe 2020 coronation night, Philippine representative Rabiya Mateo has been dropping major fashion bombs on social media with her pre-pageant OOTDs and stunning editorials. But the question Filipino pageant fans have been asking, who will she be wearing during the pageant?
Miss Universe Philippines (MUP) creative director Jonas Gaffud confirmed to Manila Bulletin Lifestyle that the beauty queen from Iloilo will be donning pieces from the fashion houses of Furne One and the late designer Rocky Gathercole.
News about Rocky's involvement in creating Rabiya's National Costume first made headlines last March, due to the avant-garde designer's unfortunate passing.
"Our National Costume designer @verygathercole died an hour ago," Jonas said in an Instagram post. "We were supposed to meet on Saturday to finalize our preparation for Miss Universe."
Rocky's National Costume marks his debut in the Miss Universe stage.
Rocky rose to fame for his out of the box design, and has been one of the go-to Filipino designers of Hollywood stars and stylists whenever they need a showstopping piece. This celebrity clientele included Britney Spears, rapper Nicki Minaj, and actress Jennifer Lopez.
For the evening gown competition, expect Rabiya to wear nothing but opulence with the help of Furne One. This is not the first time Rabiya wore a Furne One piece as the Dubai-based couturier designed the swimwear she and other Miss Universe Philippines 2020 candidates wore last October 2020.
Honed in Paris and New York, Furne's aesthetic truly echoes a global design philosophy that's uniquely opulent and, at the same time, inherently edgy. This polarity in the designer's work has worn Furne multiple accolades by international institutions recognizing his distinctive fashion narrative and mastery of craft.
With Filipino fashion giants dressing Rabiya, Miss Universe is going to be one stylish affair for Filipino pageant fans
The 69th edition of Miss Universe will take place on May 16, 2021 (May 17 in the Philippines) at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.