<p>Celeste Cortesi is back in the country after <a href="https://dzrh.com.ph/post/celeste-cortesi-ends-miss-universe-2022-journey" target="_blank" rel="noopener">competing</a> in the 71st Miss Universe pageant&nbsp;to which she's "immensely grateful to have had the chance to represent all Filipinos."&nbsp;</p>
<p>In an Instagram post on Monday, the 25-year-old Filipino-Italian beauty queen penned a heartfelt letter to express her gratitude for the Filipinos and her loved ones.</p>
<p>Celeste's post comes with an artwork of herself in her Darna national costume made by Filipino artist André Manguba.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"The entire year has been the most challenging, and yet most exciting time of my life," she wrote. "To represent my country, The Philippines, is my greatest honor."&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Celeste shared that she has always had a "burning passion" for the Philippines and that she plans to continue pursuing her identity as a Filipina.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>&ldquo;I challenged myself and stepped out of my comfort zone by flying here alone as a very young woman. I&rsquo;ve always known by heart that there are no limits to what you can achieve as long as you are committed to the vision and your intentions are pure, as I have done by pushing myself beyond my limits in the services of my advocacies, training, and learning,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;</p>
<p>She added that representing her country in the Miss Universe pageant&nbsp; was her &ldquo;greatest honor&rdquo; as it also allowed her to discover &ldquo;purposes that go beyond self-ambition.&rdquo;</p>
<p>"I am immensely grateful to have had the chance to represent all Filipinos and all the sweet fans of pageantry around the world,&rdquo; she continued.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Addressing her team, Celeste referred to them as her &ldquo;safe place,&rdquo; as well as her fans, family, and loved ones.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;I now believe that my purpose is to inspire, and I will never stop inspiring and motivating all of you, with or without the Universe Crown. I am committed,&rdquo; she wrote.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"To my country, I stand proud to be a Filipina."</p>
<p>The beauty queen also dedicated the post to her late father, who she refers to as her &ldquo;guardian angel.&rdquo;</p>
<p>&ldquo;To my father, you guided me up to this day," Cortesi said. "I feel your protection. If you are redirecting me to a different path, to what is truly meant for me, I trust you."</p>
<p>She then concluded her post with the signature, &ldquo;Forever your Miss Philippines.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Cortesi ended her journey after failing to enter the Top 16 of the 71st Miss Universe pageant in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. This marks the end of the Philippines&rsquo; 12-year streak of entering the pageant&rsquo;s semifinal round.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Fil-Am <a href="https://dzrh.com.ph/post/miss-usa-hails-miss-universe-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">R'Bonney Gabriel </a>from the USA was crowned Miss Universe 2022.&nbsp;</p>

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"Forever your Miss Philippines" Celeste Cortesi pens heartfelt letter after Miss Universe stint