When Miss Philippines Elizabeth Clenci stepped out onstage during the National Costume Competition of Miss Grand International 2017, everyone was in awe. Her traditional garb may not have the shock factor of what the likes of Miss Indonesia Dea Rizkita wore with the sim city-like structures protruding like a temple country on the train, but it maintained the stylish appeal that our bet has bet has been bringing in multiple doses ever since she landed in Vietnam.

Let us allow Designer Jearson Demavivas to explain the inspiration for his creation:

“Detail madness!!!🇵🇭❤️👑
Lies at the heart of South Central Mindanao is a thriving community of Philippine’s renowned cultural tribe called the T’boli.

With the tribe’s rich culture and art, they also became popular with its creations such as jewelries and fabrics made out of indigenous materials.

This dress was inspired by the massive creativity of the T’boli tribe. This is a representation of a modern T’boli princess in haute couture and their uniquely designed guitar called ‘hegulung’. Philippine’s T’boli takes pride on its T’nalak fabric which designs are spawned from the dreams of the weavers. This has brought out the name of its province, South Cotabato, as Land of the Dreamweavers.

The design of this national costume represents the cultural structure of the T’boli tribe along with the colors and intricate beadworks, which speaks of their careful yet impressive art.

Thank you @mselizabethclenci to showcase this rich culture of Filipino in the International stage👏🏻🇵🇭❤️👑 you nailed it!!!
#shewearingJearsond #Philippines #missgrandinternational #nationalcostume #tnalak #southcotabato