Filipino designer Rian Fernandez opens up about ’awful’ experience with Miss Universe Canada

After Michael Cinco blasted Miss Universe Canada 2020 Nova Stevens and her team for allegedly trying to blame him for her loss at the pageant this month, Filipino designer Rian Fernandez lashes out at the Miss Universe Canada Organization for treating him and his team poorly in the past.

In a lengthy Facebook post on Sunday, Fernandez narrated what he described as “an awful experience that almost cost my life!”

He agrees with Cinco that “Filipino designers should no longer trust Miss Universe Canada Organization under the directorship of Denis Martin Davila.”

“Unfortunately, I did not have the courage to speak before because I am just a small brand. I was scared that it will boomerang on me,” the Fernandez wrote.

“Now that I know that I was not the only one treated badly by Denis, but other Filipino designers as well…I cannot be silent anymore,” he added, referring to Denis Martin Davila, the national director of Miss Universe Canada.

Fernandez opened up about a lot of “drama” with MUC in his post, including an issue related to his creation worn by Miss Universe Canada 2016 Siera Bearchell at the 2017 Miss Universe pageant that was bashed online.

The Pinoy designer claimed he made two gowns for Bearchell but Davila didn’t show both to the beauty queen, resulting in her wearing the white serpentine gown which was bashed online.

"BTW, Siera and I are still good friends, and I even made her wedding gown,” Fernandez said.

Bearchell has discussed the gown mishap with Fernandez in a vlog last year, where she told him that he did not need to apologize to her.

The Miss Universe Canada 2016 titleholder also voiced support for her "good friend" on social media, shortly after the issue involving MUC and Cinco became a hot topic online.

And then there was the 2018 incident involving Marta Stepien, for whom Fernandez made five different gowns. 

He narrated having to fly to Thailand twice, staying in the country for weeks to make sure "Marta will get all the assistance," and shouldering the costs.

Fernandez also said that Davila “promised” him that he will get the “exposure and media mileage” for his works so he made the gowns “out of love.”

Unfortunately, Stepien didn't wear any of his creations during the preliminaries, instead opting for a Michael Cinco dress. "I have nothing nothing against M5 because he is an icon!" Fernandez clarified.

He said Davila promised Stepien will wear his creation at the finals, which again didn't happen.

"Marta still wore M5,” he wrote. “I was devastated and cried in my hotel room! I felt frustrated [and cheated on].”

According to Fernandez, these two incidents took a toll on his mental health.

“I questioned my talent and skill as a designer! Until the stress and anxiety level escalated and I felt half of my body paralyzed. It was the scariest moment of my life,” he wrote.

Towards the end of his post, Fernandez left a reminder for Filipino designers to never let the Miss Universe Canada organization “scam” them again.

“Please have some gratitude and a little sense of professionalism when dealing with people who want to help your queen," he wrote addressing Davila.

Stevens has since spoken up about the controversy with Michael Cinco on social media, but Miss Universe Canada Organization has yet to issue an official statement on the matter. — Margaret Claire Layug, Franchesca Viernes/LA, GMA News