Celeste Cortesi: ‘I was given a second chance to represent the Philippines—I’m not gonna waste it’
Celeste Cortesi is determined 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 has always been my dream to become Miss Universe. I have my purpose, and honestly, I was given a second chance to represent the Philippines. I’m not gonna waste it,” she said in an interview with reporter Dyan Castillejo posted on Saturday, Jan. 14. In case you didn’t know, Cortesi also competed at the Miss Earth 2018 pageant, where she ended up as a Top 8 finalist.
The beauty queen is vying for the highly coveted Miss U crown in New Orleans on Sunday. While she admitted that it’s quite impossible not to be nervous, she wants to enjoy every moment she will have onstage.
What’s her mindset, a day before the coronation night? “I’m really telling myself that I worked so hard. I really prepared for this so I just have to go out there and enjoy the moment because God will just do the rest,” she said.
“Miss Universe is a destiny and I want to enjoy every single step on the stage. It’s just one chance in a lifetime and I really have to have fun when I’m on the stage and then we will see what’s gonna happen again,” she added.
When asked what Filipinos can expect from Celeste at the upcoming tilt, the beauty queen let slip that she will show a different side of her on the pageant stage. “The gown is gonna be different, little bit of a different color as well. We really wanted to leave the best for last,” said Celeste.
“My posing and my walk are gonna be a little bit different. I’ve always wanted to have a very strong walk.”
“I really want to go onstage having fun, not even thinking about the technique or anything. I just want to walk out there and do my posing, really enjoy the moment. That’s what I’m hoping for,” she continued.
Celeste and 83 other delegates will compete for the Miss U title at the Miss Universe 2022 finals night on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. (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.
Best of luck, Celeste!