Composite photo of Celeste Cortesi in her evening gown during the preliminaries and Celeste with her team after the 71st Miss Universe competition (Miss Universe, Voltaire Tayag's Instagram)
This was the message of Celeste Cortesi to her fans after she failed to advance to the Top 16 of the 71st Miss Universe pageant.
Celeste concluded her Miss Universe 2022 journey early after her name was not called among the finalists during the coronation night on Saturday, January 14. (January 15, Manila time). This ended the Philippines’ 12-year streak of reaching the semifinals in Miss Universe competitions.
In an interview with Dyan Castillejo after the coronation night, Celeste expressed her love and gratitude to those who supported her throughout her Miss Universe journey.
“Hey, guys! Thank you so much for your love and support. I truly, truly love you,” she said.
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach joined them on Twitter.
“We know you gave it your all, Celeste. We are very proud of you,” Pia tweeted.
We know you gave it your all, Celeste. We are very proud of you 💙🇵🇭
— Pia Wurtzbach | yourhighness.eth (@PiaWurtzbach) January 15, 2023
Some online users, meanwhile, expressed concern for how Celeste was doing after such a loss.
One Twitter video claimed that Celeste was in tears as she was leaving the stage, along with other candidates who fell short of their Miss Universe bids.
Amid the dismay of some Filipinos over Celeste’s loss, Voltaire Tayag, director of communications for the Miss Universe Philippines, told them to be “grateful” instead.
Tayag posted this via his Instagram Stories on January 15.
“Let us all be happy for the success of the Top 16! All the women have worked hard to be Miss Universe. They are all deserving,” Tayag said.
“Of course, it hurts but let’s keep the true spirit of the pageant alive. Miss Universe has been very kind to us for so many years. Let’s be grateful for those years and be optimistic for what’s to come,” he added.
Screenshot of Voltaire Tayag’s message to local pageant fans after 71st Miss Universe competition (Instagram/Voltaire Tayag)