What was the inspiration behind Charlene Gonzalez' winning national costume in Miss Universe 1994?

Did you know that Charlene Gonzalez earned the country's first Best in National Costume award in the Miss Universe pageant?

As seen on Monday's episode of "24 Oras," Kuya Kim showed that the Filipina beauty queen wowed everyone in 1994 with her fit inspired by ethnic tribes T'boli, Bagobo, and Higaonon.

Aside from a golden crop top-like blouse and a shimmering gold and red pantsuit that had tassels around the waist, Charlene also sported a fan-shaped headdress decorated with feathers and pearls.

According to cultural anthropologist Nestor Castro, the T'boli's outfits are called T'nalak, which is made from weaving abaca fiber.

Like Charlene, other Miss Universe Philippines candidates also took inspiration from Philippine traditional attires for their national costumes in international pageants.

Miss Universe 2012 first runner-up Janine Tugonon, who won first runner-up, sported a fit that was inspired by the Maranaos' traditional attire.

While beauty pageants require a national costume, set designer and historical costume consultant Gino Gonzales clarified that Filipinos only have a national attire—the barong.

Castro added that the way the barong is worn was also indicative of one's nationality in the past.

"'Yung mga Kastila kasi, ipinag-utos na ang mga Indio, ang pamamaraan ng pananamit nila, dapat hindi naka-tuck in. Nakalabas ang barong tagalog. Do'n ma-distinguish kung sila ay Kastila o Pilipino."

The terno or baro't saya, meanwhile, is not a national attire but a traditional one.

On the 70th Miss Universe pageant held Monday morning (Philippine time), Nigeria's Maristella Okpala won the Best in National Costume award with her "Mmnwa" look. It was made by Filipino designer Kennedy Jhon Gasper.

Meanwhile, Philippine bet Beatrice Luigi Gomez wore an intricate costume inspired by the mythical creature "Bakunawa."

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News