Filipino designer Michael Cinco will serve as one of the judges for Miss Universe 2024 next month. Cinco, who started his own fashion label in Dubai in 2003, will help select the winner of the long-running beauty pageant, scheduled to take place from November 14 to 16 in Mexico City.
Contestants from over 80 countries have begun arriving in Mexico City for the preliminary rounds, with the finals set for November 16. During this event, the current Miss Universe, Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua, will crown her successor.
“I’m truly honored to be part of the Miss Universe 2024 selection committee,” Cincon. “This chance lets me celebrate the incredible talents, intelligence, and strength of the contestants from around the world.”
“It’s inspiring to see so many unique stories come together on such a big stage. Being involved in choosing a representative who will use her voice to make a difference globally is a privilege, and I can’t wait to see each contestant shine.”
From his studio in the Dubai Design District, Cinco has dressed some of the world’s biggest stars, including Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Kylie Jenner, Rihanna, Madonna, and Mariah Carey. In 2016, he made history by becoming the first Filipino designer invited to Paris Haute Couture Week.
Cinco’s dresses have graced the Miss Universe stage many times. In 2021, he designed the gown worn by Miss USA, Elle Smith, for the evening gown segment of the pageant. He also dressed two judges—Bollywood star and former Miss India Urvashi Rautela and Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere—for both the preliminaries and finals.
Miss Universe 2020, Andrea Meza from Mexico, wore another of Cinco’s custom gowns as she passed her crown to the 2021 winner, Harnaaz Sandhu from India.
He also designed the gown for Miss Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach, for her final walk in 2016, as well as for Mittenaere’s final appearance at the 2017 contest. Cinco’s creations have also been worn by Miss Canada, Miss Romania, Miss Argentina, Miss Uruguay, and Miss Czech Republic in previous competitions.
As a judge, Cinco says he will look for “qualities beyond just physical beauty.” “Key aspects I’ll focus on include authenticity, intelligence, and purpose,” he shared. “I’m particularly interested in how each contestant uses her voice whether she has a clear vision for the causes she cares about and can express that with confidence and compassion.”
This year’s Miss Universe has lifted many previous restrictions, including those related to age, marital status, and body type for all contestants. Last year marked the first time mothers were allowed to compete.
