Fil-Am artist designs crown, judges America’s Miss World 2017

“Even though there was a lot of pressure, it was an honor to make one girl’s dream come true," shares JEFRË. “I was surprised it was Clarissa’s first pageant, but she was very poised, humorous, natural, and authentic. She will represent America proud!”

The 66th Annual America’s Miss World was held at the Linda Chaplin Theatre in Orlando, Florida and showcased 28 hopefuls. Taking inspiration from the pageant’s motto, “Beauty with a Purpose," JEFRË conceptualized the crown to mimic Gore Strips, which are triangular paper segments used to create world globes.

“I’ve always had an interest in maps and globes, how they are deconstructed and created. The Gore Strips have a point at the top and bottom that when placed on a sphere, forms the north and south poles," JEFRË elaborates. “When completed and assembled, the Gore Strips have true perspective and creates the image of the world as one.”

Along with Prerna Nanda of Elementz by Prerna, JEFRË’s design was brought to life using

•    2,367 diamonds and white sapphires

•    97 pieces of hyro blue sapphires

•    382 grams of silver and white gold.

“Seeing the concept come to fruition by a renowned jewelery designer and then placed on the American winner to represent Miss World was both inspiring and an honor!," JEFRË adds.

“The shape that JEFRË created is powerful because it represents so many different parts of the world: unique yet united. This crown is a reminder to our titleholder, organization, and anyone who looks at the design that she is a representation of the world as a whole and all who inhabit it," says Elizabeth Safrit, co-national director of Miss World in the United States.

Jefre Manuel-Figueras, a Filipino-American artist established globally has a strong interest in connecting with his roots and making a difference in the skyline and landscape of his native community.

JEFRË studied at the Art Institute of Chicago prior to receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from Ohio State University. JEFRË was named one of seven "Faces of Design for 2007" by Florida Inside Out architecture magazine for his environmental art and couture landscapes.

 As a designer and public art initiator, his design solutions originate from a deep understanding of the historical, environmental, social and contextual relationships influencing the site and the architecture. In 2008, JEFRË launched his own couture landscape and public art studio with a focus on environmental art, green roofs, boutique plazas and parks and public art master plans.

He was selected by the prestigious Marlborough Gallery in New York City as an “Up and Coming International Public Artist” and chosen by the Lexus Corporation to be the sixth member of their ECO Hybrid Living National Design Team to design environmental conscious carbon neutral environments.

JEFRË is passionate about sharing his public art initiative through his line of new interactive designs and upcoming public art projects.

Filipino-American artist JEFRË and the crown he conceptualized for America’s Miss World 2017.

The crown's design was inspired by globe strips.