MANILA, Philippines – Stella Araneta, the first Miss International in history and the current pageant director and organizer of Binibining Pilipinas is in hot water after Philippines’ representative Mary Jean Lastimosa failed to make it to the top 5 of the Miss Universe pageant.
For the national costume segment, MJ donned a Panagbenga-inspired gown, complete with floral designs, with hues of yellow, pink and violet. The gown was designed by a renowned Colombian designer, Alfredo Barraza.
The costume drew mixed reactions from the netizens, others even comparing the creation to an elaborate ‘cake.’
MJ Lastimosa make up transformation. #NationalCostume #Philippines #ForTheWin #MissUniverse pic.twitter.com/oHqZSBcBKI
— Pinoy Humor & Quotes (@Pinoy_Humor) January 22, 2015 ito pala ang inspirasyon ni Barraza while doing MJ Lastmosa's national costume.Kudos to Madam Stella Araneta! pic.twitter.com/tZQr1GrNTo
— jayke esmeralda (@esmeralda_jake) January 23, 2015 Kulang ng dedication ung cake-inspired na national costume natin sa Miss Universe. Sponsored by Goldilocks pic.twitter.com/D2EZquSqTB
— Neil Enore (@neilke93) January 26, 2015 Filipinos turned to social media after MJ did not secure a spot in the top 5. Most of the tweets were bearing the hashtags MJForMsUniverse, PatayTV and Stella Araneta (attributing MJ's loss to the national costume she wore for the competition), which all became a worldwide trending topic on the microblogging site Twitter.
Many of them expressed their disappointment toward the gown, which Stella Araneta chose for MJ. According to the reactions, it would have been better if the gown was designed by a local artist.
Stella Araneta chose a Colombian designer because Filipino Designers were not good enough. Argh!! REALLY?!?!?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/uiuybERo57
— Jon Gallardo (@theJonnny) January 26, 2015 I saw a post online saying we should replace Stella Araneta with someone younger! So we can have fresh ideas and ibang atake naman!
— Morgan™ (@supermorgy) January 26, 2015 we need to replace STELLA ARANETA with a filipino who has taste. her insult to all filipino designers should've been the final straw.
— paulo castro (@pawawawofficial) January 26, 2015 Dear Stella Araneta, seriously! Give Filipino designers a chance to dress our own! Stop patronising those who will just sabotage our chance!
— ShutangInaBeks (@ShutangInaBeks) January 26, 2015 Colombia's greatest contribution is Madame Stella Araneta who dresses her contestants with basura gown.
— Smorgasbord by Nash (@nashfrias) January 26, 2015 I hope next year, Stella Araneta will have the sanity to trust the talent of Filipino designers on creating evening gowns. #MissUniverse
— Jetty Fierce (@JETTYFIERCE) January 26, 2015 Dear Stella Araneta, I will fly back to MNL to see the gowns made by Filipinos which you described as "not good enough". I don't trust you.
— Ralph Irish ® (@ThatsARalph) January 26, 2015 That decision and statement of Stella Araneta clearly shows disregard and disrespect for all the 300 years of battle of our ancestors.
— Regine Kalurquez (@AsiasTweetybird) January 26, 2015 The national costume segment was first seen during the coronation night at the FIU Arena, Sunday January 25 (Monday, January 26 in Manila).
Meanwhile, Columbian beauty queen Paulina Vergara became the successor to Venezuela’s Gabriela Isler.