Hidilyn Diaz celebrates 'extra special' 31st birthday with photoshoot
Feb. 20 is Hidilyn Diaz day, and the Olympic gold medalist marked the occasion with a photoshoot.
"I want my 31st birthday to be extra special," Diaz wrote in a post, noting that she's been celebrating her birthday outside the Philippines since 2019. "It's my first time again to celebrate my birthday with friends, family, and fans."
In the shoot taken by her coach and fiancé Julius Naranjo, Diaz donned a pink off-shoulder dress as she's backdropped with Mother Nature. Her getup is rounded out by her pink lipstick, light makeup, and a ponytail.
She noted that the "special dress" was created by Trude Lizares, a local clothing brand which uses sustainable organic indigenous fabrics in its products handmade by homegrown Filipino artisans.
"[The dress is] made of 100% sustainable organic pure silk cocoon handwoven and hand-dyed by the locals in the Visayas," Diaz said, who can be also seen holding flowers in some of the photos.
The weightlifter also noted that for her birthday, she cosplayed Luisa Madrigal, a strapping bodybuilder, of the 2021 Disney animated musical Encanto.
"Pero parang si Isabel ako dito," Diaz said, referring to Isabela Madrigal, another Encanto character who wears a lilac dress and has the power to conjure flowers.
The latest photos didn't come with her depiction of Luisa, though in January, she already channeled the muscular character in an Instagram Story.
Diaz, known for being a devout Catholic, ended her post by thanking God "for everything."
"Life is beautiful, keep smiling, and inspiring," she said.
