‘That’s my mom!’: Celeste Cortesi ‘steals hug’ from her mother amid strict security at Miss Universe 2022

Mother-daughter love!

Celeste Cortesi shared a heartwarming moment with her mother at the Miss Universe 2022 rehearsals.

In a video posted on Twitter by reporter Dyan Castillejo, the country’s Miss U bet can be seen quickly getting out of a queue at the rehearsals to give her mother a warm embrace. “Celeste finally gets to steal a hug with her mom who flew in from Italy. It’s super strict security around candidates,” Castillejo captioned the clip. 

When security tried to stop their mother-daughter moment, the beauty queen was quick to say: “That’s my mom. That’s my mom. That’s my mom.”

Later on, she got to hug her nearest dearest again—including her mom and boyfriend Matthew Custodio—and take a few photos with them. 

“Tuwang-tuwa ako. Diyos ko,” Cortesi’s mom said when she was asked for her reaction to their seconds-long hug. 

Castillejo told her: “Ganda ng anak niyo ‘no?” To which, she responded: “Kahit na pagod.” 

Cortesi is looking to take home the fifth Miss Universe crown for the Philippines at the 71st edition of the pageant on Sunday, Jan. 15 (Philippine time). It will be streamed live on A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, Metro Channel, and iWantTFC from the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Same-day replays will also be available at 10:30 p.m. on the same channels.