Dubai-based Filipino fashion designer Michael Cinco has called out the team of Miss Universe Canada Nova Stevens for being “ungrateful, vile, and unprofessional users" after the latter blamed him for Stevens' failure to land in the semifinals of the Miss Universe pageant.
In a lengthy Facebook post on Saturday, Cinco shared several photos of Stevens wearing his creations and a screenshot of a comment from MGmode Communications, the publicist behind Stevens.
“The truth need to be told! The gown was sent late by Michael’s team, and when it arrived none of them fitted! We were able to [fix] one for the finals but the one for prelims, we didn’t have time," the comment reads.
According to Cinco, the team has been spreading lies about him, including sabotaging Stevens' chances in the international pageant.
“Now this is for you, to the whole Miss Canada team Migüel Martinez, Denis Martin Davila, and Miss Canada Organization and your ungrateful Miss Canada Nova Stevens,” Cinco wrote.
“You have been spreading fake news about me and my team being unprofessional days before the pageant but I chose to be quiet and calm. But this time, I need to stand up for me and my team, as it is just so unfair!” he added.
He also belied the claims of MG Mode where it claimed that the gowns arrived late.
“The gowns arrived on time. Or how could you have sent me photos and videos of her wearing them, showing how the gowns perfectly fitted her, days before each event,” the designer said.
“You even posted a video of Nova in her last fitting and she was happy. You were forcing me to make Nova’s 26'' waist line to be cinched to 23'', which I obviously didn’t heed even if you said that in pageants, comfort doesn’t matter. But please don't say that her gown was ill-fitting,” he continued.
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The world-renowned designer also revealed that the team asked him to make Nova’s 26-inch waist line cinched to 23 inches.
“I obviously didn’t heed even if you said that in pageants, comfort doesn’t matter. But please, don’t say that her gown was ill-fitting,” he added.
Moreover, Cinco said that it was him who shouldered the photo shoots of Stevens while wearing his creations.
“Her life story was supposedly inspiring and I even went out of my way hiring a team of world-class photographer and filmmaker to shoot her in my couture gowns at a world-class location in Dubai just to give her extra publicity mileage and create for her a balance of glam and luxury as opposed to her humble homecoming in Africa. And everything in that shoot was paid for by me. Did you get that?” he continued.
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Cinco also stressed how other Miss Universe candidates who also wore his couture gowns were thankful to him. Even Miss Mexico, who was then cornwed as the new Miss Universe, sent him a message of gratitude despite not being able to wear his gown both in the preliminary and finals night.
“But for Nova and your team, not only have I not got a curt thank you but even seemed so upset with me for being eliminated in the pageant. Am I the judge?” Cinco said.
“Stop blaming me for Nova’s not making it to the Top 21 in Miss Universe. In fact, she did not wear my gown to the prelims as you were earlier posting that she will wear another gown. And now you’re telling me that her prelims gown killed her to advance to the finals. Am I to be blamed for that?” he continued.
Cinco then revealed in his last point that the Miss Canada team had been exploiting him for several years.
“Lastly, here is the real truth to be told. You and your team have been using me and taking advantage of my kindness for the past three consecutive years to dress up for your candidates without paying me any cents,” he exclaimed.
He also warned the team not to hire him or any Filipino designers anymore.
“You all are ungrateful, vile, and professional users. Next time don’t ask me or any Filipino designers to dress up your candidates. Ask your Canadian designers to showcase their works in world stage,” said Cinco.
For her part, Stevens posted a video message to Cinco, saying that she has nothing but “love” and “gratitude" towards the Filipino designer.
“You have created the most beautiful gowns I could think of. I’ve never once imagined that I would work with you because you’re Michel Cinco. So the fact that I was able to work with you is honestly a highlight of my career as Miss Universe Canada,” she said.
"So I just want you to know that – that gratitude would never be diminished no matter what. And I’ll express that gratitude publicly and privately.”
