It seems that Kapuso teen actress Gaea Mischa chose to take a trip down memory lane with her Halloween look at the Sparkle Spell 2023 by wearing MJ Lastimosa’s 2014 Miss Universe national costume.
“For tonight’s Sparkle Spell ball, I’m channeling my inner @mj_lastimosa in her most iconic National Costume gown in the history of Miss Universe,” Gaea wrote in her Instagram post.
In a separate post, Mischa thanked the beauty queen who she looks up to as an inspiration to become a Miss Universe one day.
“Thank you so much Miss @mj_lastimosa – it was such an honor to be you for one night. You truly inspire me to be Miss Universe someday,” she penned to Lastimosa.
She added, “And to all the people who loved the iconic NatCos, thank you. Hindi po tayo nanalong Best in Costume. Kalma lang guys. Babawi tayo sa Sparkle Spell 2024. Char??.”
It can be recalled that the gown in question garnered widespread attention after netizens and critics likened the gown to a birthday cake, triggering a wave of memes online.
The notorious gown was created by Alfredo Barranza, a celebrated Colombian fashion designer. According to a Philippine STAR report, he was selected by Stella Marquez-Araneta, the founder of Binibining Pilipinas, which led to some controversy regarding her decision to opt for an international designer for Lastimosa’s national costume in 2014.
Filipino pageant fans and online critics even put the blame on the gown for the beauty queen’s failure to make it to the 2014 Miss U’s Top 5.
In one of her X posts, MJ playfully mentioned, “Nananahimik na daw si Barraza sa Colombia mga mariiiii.”
With the spotlight back on her years-old ensemble, Lastimosa couldn’t help but react to Mischa’s choice of Halloween costume as well as online users’ comments about her “cake” gown’s resurrection.
“Nakakatakot na talaga,” she wrote in her post sharing the young artist’s photos in her gown.
MJ also reacted to a netizen who quipped about her pageant gown becoming a Halloween costume.
“Ginawang Halloween Costume ka na MJ Lastimosa ?,” the Facebook user wrote along with a video of him watching a Gaea’s walk on the black carpet of the Sparkle Ball.
“HAHAHAHAPPY BIRTHDAY,” MJ reacted back, in reference to those comparing the gown to a birthday cake.
Under the comment section, Lastimosa had a quick exchange with Mischa after the latter appeared to have left a laughing reaction in the post.
