For the second year in a row, a Filipino designer created the competition gown of Miss Japan in Miss Universe.
Miss Japan 2019 Ako Kamo donned a wine-red lace gown with appliqués, black beads and ostrich feather embellishments. Escober designed two other gowns for Kamo, but it was the wine-colored one that complemented the Japanese beauty’s skin tone.
Kamo and her national director, Hiroko Mima, even flew to Manila to do fittings with Escober.
Escober explains that he veered away from the usual pageant gown looks. “Soft and strong are words that portray Ako’s character,” he narrates. “I was thinking of something really soft, but with hints of fierceness and drama.”
Escober imagines Kamo like a warrior ready to fight in an arena—executed in very soft, elegant fabrics like lace, French lace, Japanese tulle and ostrich feathers.
