'Grace under pressure': Catriona makes last-minute adjustments amid costume glitch
MANILA, Philippines — While Catriona Gray, Philippine bet to Miss Universe 2018, wowed the crowd on Monday evening when she flaunted her massive “entire Philippines” costume, it is not known to all that she had to make last-minute adjustments because of technical mishaps on her national costume.
Gray said she was saddened that the lights on her costume that fronted Christmas lantern or parol did not work.
“On the day itself and on the time that I walked out of stage, yung ilaw ko, or the lights, they weren’t working and I am really really sad about it,” Gray was quoted by entertainment website, Pep.ph.
The Bicolana beauty also shared that she struggled with the weight of her costume, which she was “initially supposed to carry.”
“We fell in love with the concept of the parol, you know. We wanted to be authentic so it was made with every consideration in mind,” Gray said in a live video on Instagram.
“It’s fiberglass. It was handmade in Pampanga and that was the lightest that we could get I still couldn’t carry it that's why we had wheels. So that’s what happened,” she added.
Gray also shared that she was surprised that the stage floor for the national costume show was carpeted.
“The wheels that we prepared for is for the flat floor, tiled or wooden floor, just a smooth floor and I didn’t expect that the floor for the national costume competition would be carpeted so when I walked on the carpet, the wheels were not running smoothly and it’s really hard to pull,” Gray was quoted by Pep.
“That is why it's difficult to pull my costume, but you know that I just wanted to show the Filipino artistry,” she added.
WATCH: Catriona Gray showcases entire Philippines in national costume competition
How Gray's costume would look like with LED lights on
Supporters of Gray took to social media to post the supposed look of Gray’s costume with led lights on.
Some also made photoshopped version of Gray’s costume reimagining it with lights.
Catriona Gray’s National Costume with led light ?????? pic.twitter.com/7WGjaKemKv
— Pageant Trend (@PageantTrend) December 11, 2018
Symbolic costume achieved
Despite the adjustments she had to make, Gray still managed to showcase the three major island groups of the Philippines—Luzon,Visayas and Mindanao—in her costume gracefully.
The costume designed by Jearson Demavivas featured a giant Christmas lantern that represents Luzon.
Gray’s modernized body suit, dubbed “Lumaban” also bore tattoo designs used by the “Pintados” or tattooed warriors which represents the Visayas.
She also wore headpiece and brass accessories as well as knee-high boots with embroidered designs inspired by the Inaul, Yakan, Maranao, B'laan, Bagobo, Tausug and T'nalak weaves to represent Mindanao.
Aside from the LuzViMinda details of Gray's costume, the lantern featured a painting with an inscription of the lyrics from "Lupang Hinirang" written in Baybayin at the back part.
Gray said she wanted to promote the victory, the iconic sceneries and symbolisms from Philippines.
“Gusto ko talaga ma-uplift ‘yung spirit ng mga Pinoy. I wanna make them proud,” she said in a separate interview with ABS-CBN.
The Filipina-Australian beauty also said despite the challenges she faced while showcasing the national costume, she is happy that Filipinos are learning the rich culture of the Philippines through her costume.
“But regardless, I was really really grateful for the entire team that allowed me to put this together,” Gray said on her Instagram live.
“Reading comments on how proud you are, how much you're learning from my national costume that's what I wanted to happen,” she added. — Rosette Adel
RELATED: In photos: Catriona Gray shows off Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao in national costume
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