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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Cebuana walks twice at int'l film festival red carpet

Cebuana walks twice at int'l film festival red carpet

Published May 27, 2025 06:20 pm
CEBU CITY – She didn’t just turn heads, she also made history.
MELENDRES
MELENDRES
Socialite and fashion icon Happy Melendres became the first Cebuana to walk twice on the red carpet of Cannes Film Festival when she took part in the 78th edition of the prestigious global event in France.
Glamorous in a couture creation by internationally renowned designer Michael Cinco, Melendres said being a Cebuana is something that she carries with pride when gracing Cannes.
“I feel so blessed and grateful for this opportunity for me to walk the red carpet again. And I’m very proud to bring Cebu with me. I always tell people I meet there that I come from a beautiful island in the Philippines,” Melendres said.
Melendres debuted in Cannes last year. In her second appearance in the prestigious event, Melendres stunned onlookers, confidently joining the elite of global cinema and fashion in one of the world’s grandest stages.
Melendres described her second appearance at Cannes as something that “felt like home.” She said she was more confident and intentional.
“It’s more familiar and it’s beginning to feel like another home. The first time was getting into a place of the unknown,” she said.
Melendres said it helped that she was chosen as one of the muses of Cinco, the Dubai-based couturier who has championed Filipino excellence known for dressing royalty, beauty queens, and A-listers.
“I am so lucky that Michael Cinco chose me as one of his muse. Aside from him being very talented, he is very professional, humble and kind. He cares a lot about his dresses, every single detail of it. That’s the energy in the dress,” she said.
Before her red carpet appearance, Melendres also walked for Cinco’s runway show at the iconic Carlton Hotel in Cannes, sharing the stage with Bollywood star Shalini Passi, Miss Belgium Elizabeth Victoria, Miss Peru Solecito Carmelo, and Miss Philippines Chelsea Manalo.
Melendres marveled at the opportunity to rub elbows with creatives and influencers from around the world.
She shared having a brief chat with Mohamed Hadid, the father of supermodels Gigi and Bella and crossed paths with Indian designer Manish Malhotra, at the Carlton Hotel.
Melendres also had a grand time catching up with Miss Universe Organization owners Raul Rocha and Olivia Quido.
Melendres’ second red carpet appearance at Cannes came after she received the Special Icon Award for Fashion and Media Excellence at the Global Filipino Icon Awards 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The award cited Melendres as an influential fashion personality and an empowering figure for women embracing reinvention at any stage of life.
As a late bloomer in the fashion industry, Melendres said it is her hope that she would be able to inspire those who want to make it big, especially in the international scene.
“It’s more on I want to inspire others to dream, be who you are, your true self. Remember what you wanted to be when you were a child and go for it, be it. Everything is possible if you just imagine and have faith in God,” she said.

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