Model and vlogger Francesca Taruc who took home the crown during the Miss Tourism World 2019 Intercontinental Final held in Nanjing, China on January 8 decided to draw inspiration from Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray by wearing a patriotic ensemble during the said competition.
It can be recalled that Filipino pageant fans lauded Gray for proudly showcasing Filipino culture through her fashion choices during the Miss Universe 2018 pageant.
Related Story: A peek at Catriona Gray’s patriotic outfits at Miss U pre-pageant
Gray also wore two gowns inspired by the Ibong Adarna and the Mayon volcano during the pageant preliminary competition and coronation night, respectively.
On the other hand, Taruc, 20, decided to wear a red form-fitting gown designed by Benj Leguiab which bears the symbolic three stars and sun in the Philippine flag.
Leguiab posted photos which show a closer look of the said gown with the caption, “Another Pinay Queen who made our country proud! Congratulations, FrancescaTaruc for winning Miss City tourism World Intercontinental 2019.”
Aside from winning the crown, Taruc, who hails from Pampanga, also received the Best Body award during the preliminary competition of the pageant.
This isn’t the first time the said gown was worn by a Filipina beauty queen.
Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez, the Philippines’ representative at the Reina Hispanoamericana 2018, might have not been successful in taking home the crown but she definitely won the heart of Filipino netizens when she wore the same patriotic red gown at the said pageant.
During the Miss World Philippines 2018 pageant, Alvarez also caught the attention of netizens because of another patriotic ensemble which she wore during the long gown competition of the pageant – a blue serpentine gown with the map of the Philippine islands at the back of the dress.
