Celeste Cortesi

{{Short description|Filipino actress and beauty pageant titleholder (born 1997)}}

{{Infobox pageant titleholder

| name = Celeste Cortesi

| photo = Ms. Pasay Celeste Cortesi in Ilocos Sur (cropped 2).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Cortesi in 2022

| birth_name = Silvia Celeste Rabimbi Cortesi

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|12|15}}

| birth_place = Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines

| education = Lyceum of Alabang (Real Estate Management)

| height =

| occupation = Actress

| eye_color =

| hair_color =

| title = {{Unbulleted list|Miss Earth Philippines 2018|Miss Universe Philippines 2022}}

| nationalcompetition = {{Unbulleted list|Miss Earth Philippines 2018|(Winner)|Miss Earth 2018|(Top 8)|Miss Universe Philippines 2022|(Winner)|Miss Universe 2022|(Unplaced)}}

}}

Silvia Celeste Rabimbi Cortesi ({{IPA|tl|tʃɛˈlɛstɛ kɔɾˈtɛsɪ|lang}}, {{IPA|it|tʃeˈlɛste korˈteːzi, -eːsi|lang}}; born December 15, 1997) is a Filipino actress and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022. She represented the Philippines at Miss Universe 2022 in the United States where she was unplaced. Cortesi was previously crowned Miss Earth Philippines 2018 and represented the Philippines at Miss Earth 2018, where she finished in the top eight.

Early life

Silvia Celeste Rabimbi Cortesi was born on December 15, 1997, in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, to a Filipino mother, Maria Luisa Rabimbi, and an Italian father who was born in Venezuela.{{cite web|last=Adina|first=Armin P|title=Miss Universe PH Celeste Cortesi: 'I'm not part Venezuelan'|url=https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/402723/miss-universe-ph-celeste-cortesi-im-not-part-venezuelan/|quote=I remember one day I said my mother is from the Philippines and my dad is Italian, born in Venezuela. So he was just born there, but his parents are both Italian. It doesn’t mean I’m part Venezuelan|website=Lifestyle Inquirer|date=May 8, 2022|access-date=January 31, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Melliza |first=Patricia |date=1 May 2022 |title=9 Things You Need To Know About Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi |url=https://www.cosmo.ph/entertainment/miss-universe-philippines-2022-celeste-cortesi-facts-a3871-20220501 |access-date=1 May 2022 |website=Cosmopolitan |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Neil |date=3 May 2022 |title=Getting to know Celeste Cortesi |url=https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/03/getting-to-know-celeste-cortesi/ |access-date=4 May 2022 |website=Manila Bulletin |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Lim |first=Ron |date=June 20, 2022 |title=Celeste Cortesi remembers father on Father's Day |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/celebritylife/family/89667/celeste-cortesi-remembers-father-on-fathers-day/story |access-date=December 13, 2022 |website=GMA News}} Her mother was from Camarines Sur, Bicol and was also of distant Spanish and Chinese descent. Her parents met at an Italian restaurant in Manila which her father owned and her mother worked at. Cortesi grew up in a multicultural household, exposed to both her Filipino and Italian ancestries.{{Cite web |last=Romanillos |first=Shennah |date=2 May 2022 |title=Filipino Italian Celeste Cortesi crowned Miss Universe-PH |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/05/02/news/national/filipino-italian-celeste-cortesi-crowned-miss-universe-ph/1841991 |access-date=2 May 2022 |website=The Manila Times}}{{Cite web |last=Severo |first=Jan Milo |title=Pasay's Celeste Cortesi wins Miss Universe Philippines 2022 |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2022/04/30/2177881/pasays-celeste-cortesi-wins-miss-universe-philippines-2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=Philstar.com}}{{Cite web |date=1 May 2022 |title=Who is Celeste Cortesi, Miss Universe Philippines 2022? |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/fashion/2022/05/01/who-is-celeste-cortesi-miss-universe-philippines-2022/ |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=The National News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Lo |first=Ricky |date=June 25, 2018 |title=Buona sera, Celeste! |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2018/06/25/1827529/buona-sera-celeste |access-date=December 13, 2022 |website=Philippine Star}}

Cortesi was initially brought up in a neighborhood in Pasay. When she was six months old, her family moved to Parma, Italy, where she spent most of her upbringing. After her father died of a heart attack when she was ten years old, her mother raised both her and her sister as a single parent. As a teenager, Cortesi worked as a model and store cashier in Parma.{{Cite web |date=7 May 2022 |title=10 juicy details you may not know about Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi |url=https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/07/10-juicy-details-you-may-not-know-about-new-miss-universe-philippines-2022-celeste-cortesi/ |access-date=17 May 2022 |website=Manila Bulletin |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Alpad |first=Christina |date=17 May 2022 |title=The relationships that matter to Celeste Cortesi |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/05/17/entertainment-lifestyle/show-times/the-relationships-that-matter-to-celeste-cortesi/1843859 |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 May 2022 |website=The Manila Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=11 May 2022 |title=Stand by, universe! Is Celeste Cortesi ready to represent the Philippines? |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/celeste-cortesi-ready-represent-philippines-miss-universe/ |access-date=26 May 2022 |website=Rappler |language=en-US}} She would also join several pageants in secret, which her mother discovered and allowed as long as she maintained good grades in school.{{Cite web |last=Rivas |first=Erica Wine |date=November 22, 2022 |title=From Bambina to Crowned Filipina |url=https://empire.ph/posts/from-bambina-to-crowned-filipina/ |access-date=December 13, 2022 |website=Empire Philippines |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213102406/https://empire.ph/posts/from-bambina-to-crowned-filipina/ |url-status=dead }}

Cortesi became interested in pursuing pageantry as a career and exploring her Filipino roots after being informed by her mother of Pia Wurtzbach's win representing the Philippines at Miss Universe 2015, and watching her performance during the event. At 18 years old, she was motivated by Wurtzbach's win to go into pageantry. She moved back to the Philippines in hopes of representing the country in Miss Universe despite only knowing her native Italian and not being fluent in English or Filipino; she eventually learned both languages her own. She stated that she faced discrimination in both Italy and the Philippines because of her heritage and upbringing.{{Cite web |last=Arcano |first=Nicole |date=July 20, 2022 |title=Did You Know? MUPH 2022 Celeste Cortesi Joined Beauty Pageants Because of Pia Wurtzbach |url=https://www.preview.ph/culture/celeste-cortesi-pia-wurtzbach-inspiration-a00193-20220720 |access-date=December 13, 2022 |website=Preview.ph}}{{Cite web |date=May 2, 2022 |title=How Fil-Italian Celeste Cortesi found herself first, and then won the Miss Universe PH crown |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/05/02/22/how-celeste-cortesi-won-the-miss-universe-ph-crown |access-date=December 13, 2022 |website=ABS-CBN News}}

Pageantry

= Miss Philippines Earth-Italy 2018 =

Cortesi is the inaugural winner of the Miss Philippines Earth-Italy pageant in Rome. She joined the pageant as she was encouraged by her mother.{{cite web |last=Reyes |first=Shiela |date=20 May 2018 |title=New Miss Earth PH talks about biggest challenge in joining pageant |url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/05/20/18/new-miss-earth-ph-talks-about-biggest-challenge-in-joining-pageant |website=ABS-CBN News |accessdate=3 June 2018}}

= Miss Earth Philippines 2018 =

Cortesi represented the Filipino community of Rome, Italy at Miss Earth Philippines 2018.{{Cite web |last=Gabinete |first=Jojo |date=21 May 2018 |title=Kontrobersiyal na Fil-Italian beauty queen, kinoronahang Miss Earth Philippines 2018 |url=https://www.pep.ph/pepalerts/cabinet-files/21880/kontrobersiyal-na-fil-italian-beauty-queen-kinoronahang-miss-earth-philippines-2018 |access-date=4 May 2022 |website=Philippine Entertainment Portal |language=tl}}

On May 19, 2018, she was crowned as Miss Earth Philippines 2018 by the outgoing titleholder Karen Ibasco.{{cite web |last=Pata |first=Danny |date=20 May 2018 |title=LOOK: Fil-Italian wins Miss Earth Philippines 2018 |url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/content/653974/fil-italian-wins-miss-earth-philippines-2018/story/ |website=GMA News Online |accessdate=3 June 2018}}

= Miss Earth 2018 =

By winning Miss Earth Philippines 2018, she gained the right to represent the Philippines at Miss Earth 2018.{{Cite web |last=Ilaya |first=Felix |date=12 October 2018 |title=Meet Celeste Cortesi, Philippine bet for Miss Earth 2018 |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/celebritylife/news/9878/meet-celeste-cortesi-philippine-bet-for-miss-earth-2018/photo |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}

At the end of the competition, she finished as a top eight finalist.{{cite web |date=3 November 2018 |title=PH bet Celeste Cortesi finishes in Miss Earth 2018 Top 8 |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/215873-celeste-cortesi-top-8-finalists/ |access-date=4 May 2022 |website=Rappler |publisher=}}{{Cite web |date=3 November 2018 |title=PH bet Celeste Cortesi settles for top 8 finish in Miss Earth 2018 |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/11/03/18/ph-bet-celeste-cortesi-settles-for-top-8-finish-in-miss-earth-2018 |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=ABS-CBN News}} Nguyễn Phương Khánh of Vietnam won the said pageant.{{cite web|title=Vietnam's Phuong Khanh Nguyen hailed Miss Earth 2018|url=https://www.pep.ph/news/71928/vietnams-phuong-khanh-nguyen-hailed-miss-earth-2018-ph-bet-celeste-cortesi-in-top-8|website=pep.ph|access-date=August 9, 2022|archive-date=November 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106140358/https://www.pep.ph/news/71928/vietnams-phuong-khanh-nguyen-hailed-miss-earth-2018-ph-bet-celeste-cortesi-in-top-8|url-status=dead}}

= Miss Universe Philippines 2022 =

On April 6, 2022, representing Pasay, Cortesi was confirmed as one of the 32 official contestants for Miss Universe Philippines 2022.{{Cite web |last=Viernes |first=Franchesca |date=6 April 2022 |title=Miss Universe Philippines reveals top 32 finalists |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/content/827665/miss-universe-philippines-reveals-top-32-finalists/story/ |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}

At the end of the competition, Cortesi was crowned by outgoing Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Gomez as Miss Universe Philippines 2022.{{Cite web |date=30 April 2022 |title=IN PHOTOS: Miss Universe Philippines 2022 swimsuit segment |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/photos-miss-universe-philippines-swimsuit-segment-2022/ |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=Rappler |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=27 April 2022 |title=Michelle Dee wins 6 special awards at Miss Universe Philippines 2022 preliminaries |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/content/829951/michelle-dee-wins-6-special-awards-at-miss-universe-philippines-2022-preliminaries/story/ |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}

= Miss Universe 2022 =

Cortesi represented the Philippines at the 71st edition of the Miss Universe competition but was unplaced, officially ending the Philippines' twelve-year streak of consecutive placements in Miss Universe, from 2010 through 2021.{{cite web |date=2023-01-15 |title=Philippines' Celeste Cortesi finishes Miss Universe 2022 journey early |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/philippines-celeste-cortesi-journey-miss-universe-2022/ |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=Rappler |publisher=}}{{Cite web |last=Iglesias |first=Iza |date=2023-01-15 |title=Celeste Cortesi fails to make it to Miss Universe Top 16 |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/01/15/news/celeste-cortesi-fails-to-make-it-to-miss-universe-top-16/1874356 |access-date=2023-01-15 |website=The Manila Times |language=en}} R'Bonney Gabriel of the United States won the said pageant.{{Cite web|url=https://tvline.com/lists/miss-usa-2022-winner-rbonney-gabriel-texas-wins/|title=Miss USA 2022 Winner: R'Bonney Gabriel — Miss Texas Wins|access-date=2022-10-04|website=TVLine|date=October 4, 2022 }}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-16 |title=R'Bonney Gabriel, first Filipino American to win Miss USA, is crowned Miss Universe |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rbonney-gabriel-miss-usa-wins-miss-universe/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Cortesi was in a relationship with Philippine Football Federation player Mathew Custodio, of United City F.C.{{Cite web |last=Viernes |first=Franchesca |date=1 May 2022 |title=Who is Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi? 5 things to know |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/artandculture/830294/who-is-miss-universe-philippines-2022-celeste-cortesi-5-things-to-know/story/ |access-date=1 May 2022 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Napoles |first=Jimboy |title=Meet Mathew Custodio, the trending boyfriend of MUPH 2022 Celeste Cortesi |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/celebritylife/news/15526/meet-mathew-custodio-the-trending-boyfriend-of-muph-2022-celeste-cortesi/photo |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=www.gmanetwork.com |language=en}} She has residences in Taguig and Pasay.

Cortesi is concurrently completing her degree in real estate management (Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Management) from the Lyceum of Alabang,{{Cite web |date=3 May 2022 |title=Getting to know Celeste Cortesi |url=https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/03/getting-to-know-celeste-cortesi/ |access-date=17 May 2022 |website=Manila Bulletin |language=en-US}} and pursuing her Philippine real estate license.{{Cite web |date=30 April 2022 |title=Pasay's Celeste Cortesi crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022 |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/04/30/22/celeste-cortesi-crowned-miss-universe-philippines-2022 |access-date=1 May 2022 |website=ABS-CBN News}}{{Cite web |date=30 April 2022 |title=Miss Pasay Celeste Cortesi wins Miss Universe Philippines 2022 |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1927803/cebu/entertainment/miss-pasay-celeste-cortesi-wins-miss-universe-philippines-2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=SunStar |language=English}}

Acting career

On February 10, 2023, Cortesi made her acting debut in the finale episode of Philippine superhero television series, Darna, as Queen Kevnar of Marte.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-02-10 |title=Celeste Cortesi is Queen of Marte in 'Darna' finale |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/10/23/celeste-cortesi-is-queen-of-marte-in-darna-finale |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=ABS-CBN News |language=en}}

On July 20, 2023, she signed a contract with Sparkle GMA Artist Center, joining the roster of GMA Network's talents.{{Cite web |title=Isko Moreno, Celeste Cortesi join Sparkle GMA Artist Center |url=https://www.pep.ph/news/local/174636/isko-moreno-celeste-cortesi-sparkle-a5132-20230720 |access-date=July 20, 2023 |website=PEP.ph |language=en}}

Filmography

=Television=

Year	Title	Role	Note !Ref.
class="wikitable"
rowspan="2" \| 2023	Darna	Queen Kevnar	rowspan="3" \| Guest role \|{{Cite web \|last=Mallorca \|first=Hannah \|date=2023-02-12 \|title=Will the Queen of Marte in 'Darna' be the start of Celeste Cortesi's acting career? \|url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/485696/will-the-queen-of-marte-in-darna-be-the-start-of-celeste-cortesis-acting-career \|access-date=2023-02-12 \|website=INQUIRER.net \|language=en}}
Pepito Manaloto: Tuloy Ang Kwento	Bianca \|{{Cite web \|last=Santiago \|first=Ervin \|date=2024-01-29 \|title=Celeste Cortesi ayaw nang mag-join sa beauty pageant: 'It's not for me' \|url=https://bandera.inquirer.net/375333/celeste-cortesi-ayaw-nang-mag-join-sa-beauty-pageant-i-know-its-not-for-me \|access-date=2024-03-28 \|website=INQUIRER.net \|language=en}}
rowspan="2" \|2024 \|Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis \|Diana "Diamond Ricci" Mondejar \|{{Cite web \|last=Gabinete \|first=Jojo \|date=2024-01-27 \|title=Celeste Cortesi "first time to get into acting" in Walang Matigas na Pulis season 2 \|url=https://www.pep.ph/pepalerts/cabinet-files/178598/celeste-cortesi-walang-matigas-na-pulis-a734-20240127 \|access-date=2024-03-28 \|website=PEP.ph \|language=en}}
Encantadia Chronicles: Sang'gre \|Hera Juvila \| \|