Miss Universe 2020 is fast approaching and we're obviously excited to see who will get to take home the crown. But as we wait in anticipation, we're closely keeping tabs on our very own Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo and her stylish journey for this year's beauty pageant.
Her style team Rain Dagala and Em Millan sent Rabiya off packed with eight luggage full of local designer pieces—more than a hundred outfits, if you're looking for a number. But apart from meticulously forecasting the possible events Rabiya would need a cute outfit, her stylists also combed through a number of designer-led sketches based on sartorial goals they've set for Rabiya.
Rain shares in an interview that they wanted pieces fit for "a new-generation queen, something that's figure-flattering, something that's modern and chic." For young designer Paolo Miguel, that meant dressing Rabiya in a Barong Tagalog-inspired piece. He calls it the "Dear Mama" dress.
Rabiya's Dear Mama dress was meant to highlight the beauty queen's natural glow and gorgeous morena skin. Hence, he chose a bright canary yellow midi dress that strikes a balance between "sweet, dainty, and sophisticated chic," the designer says. "We wanted to use yellow to symbolize joy since rooting for our Queen brings happiness to a lot of people in our country."
The dress also carries a piece of an iconic Filipino aesthetic: the Barong Tagalog. It even bears the same intricate embroidery and sheer look of the Barong Tagalog. Now, it's no easy feat to create this dress since it was masterfully beaded by hand and was never fitted by Rabiya! Paolo shares in a post that they were most careful with the fit and it actually took them longer to finish the dress. In fact, they almost didn't make it in time!
Hiccups aside, the result was a stunning creation that gives a nod to a traditional Filipino outfit, modernized to fit a contemporary queen. Rabiya completed her look with a matching pair of yellow heels adorned with flowers to further highlight the femininity of entire OOTD. So cute!
READ MORE STORIES ON MISS UNIVERSE 2020 HERE:
- 10 Things You Need To Know About Rabiya Mateo
- Here's How This Local Shoe Brand Became Miss Universe 2020's Official Footwear
- Rabiya Mateo Reveals She'll be Wearing Pia Wurtzbach's Earrings to Miss Universe 2020
- Rabiya Mateo's Miss Universe Wardrobe Will Showcase More Than 100 Designers
- All the Details of Rabiya Mateo's Stunning Philippine Flag-Inspired Gown
- Rabiya Mateo Looks Stunning Without Makeup and Here's Proof
- Rabiya Mateo Wore a Sexy Slip Dress Inspired by Philippine Gold
- Here's a Glimpse of Rabiya Mateo's Signature Pageant Walk "Halabira"
Preview is now on Quento! Click here to download the app for iOS and Android and enjoy more articles and videos from Preview and your favorite websites!
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
