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After the Michael Cinco-Nova Stevens controversy, a former Miss Universe Canada voices support for Filipino designer
A former Miss Universe Canada has taken to social media to voice her support for a Filipino designer amid the recent controversy surrounding Nova Stevens and Michael Cinco.
In her latest Instagram post, 2016 Miss Universe Canada titleholder Siera Bearchell recalled her experience working with Rian Fernandez, whose gown sparked controversy at the 65th Miss Universe pageant held in Pasay City in 2017.
Bearchell said she and Rian have remained good friends "after experiencing a lot of drama together," and that he even designed her wedding gown.
“The pageant world can be a toxic place, but it can also be a place where lifelong friendships are created,” the Canadian beauty queen said.
Tagging the Filipino designer, Bearchell narrated their meeting. "I met Rian after an unusual gown situation at Miss Universe. The whole story and conversation with Rian can be found via the link in my bio. It’s way too complicated to explain in a caption,” she said.
“Rian and I became good friends after experiencing a lot of drama together and he designed and made my wedding gown!"
Bearchell clarified that she doesn't know much about the current situation as she has not been involved with Miss Universe Canada for a few years, but said she was grateful to have such an "amazingly talented PH designer" in her life.
“I’m not going to share much more in this caption because we share everything in our YouTube conversation,” she said.
Bearchell shared a link to a vlog she posted last year, where she and Fernandez talked about how her Miss Universe gown gained some negative feedback for not suiting her body type.
Fernandez began to apologize for supposedly “ruining” her battle, but the Bearchell asked him not to.
Instead, the Canadian beauty queen gave the designer a chance to share what he would have envisioned her gown to be, should they have had a chance to meet and get to know one another even better.
The Miss Universe Canada organization's treatment of Filipino designers became a hot topic online after Dubai-based designer Michael Cinco lashed out at how Miss Universe Canada 2020 Nova Stevens and her team MG Mode supposedly blamied him for her loss at the recently-held 69th Miss Universe pageant.
This prompted Fernandez to open up about a "dreadful" encounter with MUC on social media, calling it "an awful experience that almost cost my life!"
— Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News
