Miss Universe PH 2026 Contestant Honors Yolanda Survivors in Stunning Tribute Look
MISS UNIVERSE PH – A powerful national costume inspired by Super Typhoon Yolanda captured attention at Miss Universe Philippines 2026.
Jacqueline Gulrajani highlighted the resilience and enduring spirit of Tacloban on the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) 2026 stage through a national costume inspired by Super Typhoon Yolanda, the devastating storm that struck the Visayas in 2013, killing thousands and leaving millions homeless.
Designed by Charlotte Rodriguez, the costume titled “Waves of Courage, The Heart of Hope” featured a powerful visual narrative. Its voluminous skirt was crafted to resemble crashing waves mixed with debris, with sculpted human figures reaching upward as if calling for help, reflecting the chaos and destruction brought by Yolanda during its impact on the region.
The bodice was shaped like a shell, symbolizing strength and resilience, while the shoulders expanded into cloud-like formations that echoed storm clouds. Completing the ensemble was a dramatic headdress inspired by the swirling eye of the typhoon, tying the entire concept together as a tribute to nature’s force and human survival.
Gulrajani expressed her pride in representing her community, saying: “We are unfazed and unbreakable in heart. We rose, rebuilt, transformed together. We are Taclobanons,” Gulrajani said in an Instagram post.
MUPH Tacloban director Rachelle Pineda emphasized that the costume carried a deeper meaning beyond aesthetics, explaining in a Facebook post that it is “not just a reminder of the storm,” but also “a tribute to the resilience and spirit of Tacloban that continues to rise above it.”
She also shared her emotional creative process: “With so many concepts to explore, I found myself returning again and again to Yolanda,” she shared. “I’ll admit, I was hesitant. Carrying such a story comes with weight, especially for a city that lived through it.”
Despite the tragedy, Pineda highlighted the strength of the people behind the story: “But beyond the devastation, I saw something else, our people. Strong. Unyielding. Hopeful,” explained Pineda, as she commended Gulrajani for “doing full justice to the story we hoped to tell.”
In the competition results, Tacloban emerged as one of the six winners in the national costume category, alongside candidates from Negros Occidental, Baguio, Pangasinan, Iloilo Province, and Pampanga.
The Miss Universe Philippines 2026 coronation night is set for May 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, with the winner representing the Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico this November.
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