FILIPINA beauty queen Ahtisa Manalo showcased Filipino pop culture at the National Costume Show of the Miss Cosmo 2024 pageant, transforming as the popular mermaid character from the Philippines.
On Thursday, Manalo shone brightly on the pageant stage in Vietnam with her “Dyesebel”- inspired costume. She walked the runway gracefully while waving two orange hand fans similar to fins.
Manalo’s national costume, designed by Ehrran Montoya, featured vibrant orange hues that reflected Dyesebel’s “signature colors.”
It was adorned with crystal beads and oval-shaped details to resemble mermaid scales. It also had flowy, shimmering fabric decorated to be the tail’s flukes.
In an Instagram post, the 27-year-old Philippine bet described her Dyesebel-inspired national costume as “a celebration of both the rich heritage and the contemporary allure of Philippine comic book legends.”
“More than just a symbol of myth and beauty, Dyesebel represents the power of storytelling in shaping our identity and connecting generations,” said Manalo.
“Pop culture encapsulates the spirit of our shared heritage, blending tradition with contemporary artistry. It deserves to be celebrated for its unique ability to unite people, inspire creativity, and keep our cultural legends alive in the modern world,” she added.
Who is Dyesebel?
Dyesebel is a beloved mermaid character in Philippine comics, film, and television. It was originally created by the country’s “King of Pinoy Komiks” Mars Ravelo and illustrated by Elpedio Torres.
Dyesebel, who turned into a human through a deal with a sea witch, was first introduced in Philippine comics in 1952.
It has since been adapted into films and television shows in the country, featuring actresses Anne Curtis and Marian Rivera playing the titular role in 2014 and 2008, respectively. Many Filipino Gen Zs grew up watching these small-screen adaptations.
In an interview with Filipino shoemaker Jojo Bragais, Manalo shared that Dyesebel was also shown in Vietnam, thus many locals there were familiar with the character.
“I would want to incorporate a part of Filipino contemporary art in making sure that it is shown to the world because we are not just good at making traditional costumes, we also bring forth pop culture because, you know, pop culture actually shapes our heritage and tradition, so I think it is important to represent them,” she stressed.
Netizens approve
Meanwhile, Manalo trended on X (formerly Twitter) as many Filipino pageant fans and enthusiasts rooted for her to win the pageant’s National Costume round.
Some internet users even wanted Manalo to be the next star who would give life to Dyesebel.
Before the National Costume Show, Manalo teamed up with young designers for her Lalahon-inspired costume. Lalahon is the goddess of harvests and guardian of volcanoes in ancient Visayan folktales.
According to Manalo, she collaborated with 16-year-old and 12-year-old designers for this project to provide opportunities that would push them to “pursue their dreams and develop their talents.”
