Why Celeste Cortesi was Excluded

When the eyes are bloodshot the mind is unclear. First of all, MUPH has been the franchise holder of Miss Universe since 2019, so it’s still emerging and growing with the changing times, and shifting priorities of MUO based on the vision of the new owner. 

There was nothing wrong with Celeste’s performance or the strategies of MUPH in ensuring Celeste’s performance in this year’s edition. She was perfect in all rounds of the competition. Everything else is mere speculations and explanations about her not making it. 

Remember, she was selected in an event where 4 past Miss Universe winners were present. 

What everybody should be discussing is the ongoing infighting within the organization as a result of the new owner and its management team coming in, and the investigation of allegations of irregularities in the selection of Miss USA 2022 with Rboney winning. 

These are the current challenges MUO is facing and must address posthaste in 2023. To prevent the escalation of the case, the org strategized and planned, and the results unfolded with Rboney winning and the top 5 having four (4) Latinas. They were able to solve two problems: (1) the investigation that could result in a possible court case that could lead to dethronement; (2) the clamor to bring back the crown to the Americas and reinvigorate MUO's sagging market appeal in Latin America. 

Celeste not making it in the finals was to ensure that no Asians would ruin their grand plan. She was definitely the strongest Asian candidate in 2022, hands down. 

She is 10 times more marketable than Miss USA. Rboney is dry as hell, ordinary looking, flat chested. She does not even look that beautiful with all the thick makeup on. Michelle Aldana in her younger days is a prettier and fresher doppelgänger. 

In short, she is not fresh. She looks aged. Speaking abilities, she’s boring and is limited by what she only knows. I don’t even think she has ever traveled to the Philippines. Her winning Miss USA 2022 is shrouded in a lot of controversies. Her winning Miss Universe 2022 only added to her current woes in the future. 

There is so much vitriol against her in the Latin pageant pages. Her dry look heavily made-up face will not appeal to the Thais. 

At best, she will be accepted by Filipinos simply because of her being half Filipino. The new owner noted this during the press conference right after her crowning — that this would be a joyful moment even for Filipinos. 

Celeste being shut out of the top 16 was already planned long before coronation night. In short, it was a business decision to address the twin challenges mentioned above. 

Miss USA winning would also appease the Filipinos that would be smarting from the exclusion of Celeste. This is how business owners protect themselves, their long-term interests, and the people who matter. 

Ms. Paula Schubert could have helped in modifying the top 16 list as she is the president. She has done this in the past. She has the power and authority to do so with the approval of the new owner and Ms. Amy (CEO). They all had to save themselves and protect their interest in the company. 

In the process, the COLLATERAL DAMAGE included Celeste and Miss Thailand. The narrative to shut up pageant-crazy fans from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand is so untrue. The MUO thrives from these rivalries and from pageant vlogging. They get free publicity; and the buzz,  hyping, and bullying from just these four countries are making a lot of money for the organization in many ways. 

Pageantry is dead in North America and Europe. It’s thriving in many parts of Asia and Latin America. Business-wise, the Latin American market is bigger, more robust, and earns more for the organization. IMG invested so much in expanding the brand in the Asian market.

In the end, IMG had to sell out to JKN as it was a losing business at the end of Harnaz’s reign. In a sense, her winning and reign did not translate to clear profits. Poor ROI. 

Transformational Leadership — Miss USA 2022? Whose winning is being questioned? Who is probably the most hated in her batch? And now by the Latinos. What has she done aside from what she is doing as a designer? Her background and advocacy are not extraordinary compared let’s say to Catriona. With this as background and context, how effective will she be as a spokesperson for MUO’s new tag? 

Are we that out of the 84 candidates, who get professional and educational backgrounds, work experience was the most impressive???!!!! In terms of face value (sans the heavy makeup on) I give her a 75; body proportion and sexiness (75); speaking skills 80; mass appeal in Asian and Latin markets — 70. Now make her stand beside Celeste, what sort of products can either sell I wonder. 

I’m almost 100% sure, her reign will just be like Harnaz whose main advocacy catered only to women (ie, menstrual something). I equate transformational leadership to Miss Anne, the new owner, in every sense of that term. (Barbie Dahl)