The Miss Universe Organization shared a sneak peek of the creation process of the first-ever Filipino-made crown, which will be worn by the winner of the 2024 edition of the competition.
The crown, created by the international brand Jewelmer, is called 'Lumiere de L'Infini' or 'The Light of Infinity.
Founded in 1979 by a French pearl farmer and a Filipino entrepreneur, Jewelmer is known for its South Sea pearls that adorn the new crown.
"Many hands contributed to this masterpiece — from Jewelmer’s dedicated pearl farmers to the master craftsmen of the Philippines — making it a remarkable symbol of the magic that happens when people work together with nature," said the brand.
A video shared by the Miss Universe Organization shows how the golden crown was shaped from the beginning, gradually designed with pearls and diamonds of various sizes.
The final crown features 20 pearls arranged in a gold and diamond pattern, with a pearl at the center of a centerpiece resembling the sun, surrounded by more diamonds in its "rays."
The "Lumiere de L'Infini" is the successor to the "Force for Good" crown, worn by Filipino-American R'Bonney Gabriel and the current Miss Universe titleholder, Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua.
Chelsea Manalo is competing to become the first to wear the "Lumiere de L'Infini" crown and to achieve the fifth victory for the Philippines, following Gloria Diaz, Margie Moran, Pia Wurtzbach, and Catriona Gray.
She will face competition from nearly 130 other delegates, including three half-Filipinas, for the coronation in Mexico on November 16 (November 17 in the Philippines).
