RIAN FERNANDEZ
Filipino fashion designer Rian Fernandez has shared his harrowing experience with Miss Universe Canada Organization some years ago.
On Facebook, Fernandez broke his silence following the hullabaloos circulating the social media on how the Canadian team allegedly “deceived the great Michael Cinco, a well-renowned Filipino designer based in Dubai.”
“I just want to share the dreadful experience I had with them as well. An awful experience that almost cost my life!,” he said.
“I wanted my voice to be heard NOW because I am one with M5 when he mentioned that FILIPINO DESIGNERS SHOULD NO LONGER TRUST Miss Universe Canada Organization, under the directorship of Denis Martin Davila. I will not allow this VILE & CHEATERY of Denis to continue!”
A few days ago, Cinco called out Miss Universe Canada 2020 Nova Stevens and MGmode’s Migüel Martinez and Denis Martin Davila who allegedly spread fake news about his team as being “unprofessional.”
In there, he belied the claim that Stevens’ “unfitted” gowns arrived “late,” seemingly “to sabotage” her win.
But Stevens was quick to address the controversy she got embroiled in with Dubai-based Filipino renowned Fashion designer.
Anyway, Fernandez said he and Davila go way back. They had several collaborations before, but netizens only took notice of their partnership when he dressed Siera Bearchell during Miss Universe 2016.
“I know everyone remembered that white serpentine gown that was bashed online. Yes, I did that. Yes, I was criticized because of that! But I have another gown that I wanted her to wear for the finals. This was the brown high-slitted gown with sweetheart bustline that Nick Verreos, a famous US-based blogger, ranked 1st for the Miss Universe 2016 Red Carpet event worn by Cynthia Bailey. Since Denis mentioned that Siera wanted to wear the white serpentine gown, I just lent Cynthia the said gown. Just to know that Siera didn’t even see the brown gown! (BTW, Siera and I are still good friends, and I even made her wedding gown.)”
But that was not the “drama” yet, as he just left that all behind him because he felt that he has a “great collaborative relationship” with Davila, or so he thought.
According to him, sometime in September 2018, when Marta Stepien was just crowned as Miss Universe Canada, he and Davila were already discussing the gowns for the beauty queen.
To make sure that Stepien would have several options for her preliminary and final gowns (and other functions like red carpet and dinner events), he made five outfits in deep red, blue, green, gold, and nude.
He had shown those gowns to the two before the fitting.
“They said they were excited. So, my team & I went to Thailand on Nov. 28, 2018, for Marta’s fitting, then went back to Manila on the 30th. And returned to Thailand again on Dec. 9 to make sure that Marta will get all the assistance. My team and I stayed in Thailand for weeks… ALL EXPENSES FOR MY TEAM WAS SHOULDERED BY ME! The gowns were made out of love for the reason that Denis promised me that I will get the exposure & media mileage,” he said.
“But alas, the preliminary competition happened, and I was shock that Marta is wearing a Michael Cinco creation. I have nothing against M5 because he is an icon! My point is, we were promised by Denis that Marta will wear me to the preliminary and final competition because we have a group chat of continuous updates on how the 5 gowns are going.”
Since such thing happened, he asked Davila to return to him all the five gowns so that other ladies can wear his on the final night, even just for an “outfit of the day” backstage so that people will see the creations that he and his team worked hard for.
“Denis didn’t return the gowns (except for the one Miss Cambodia wore… the deep red gown) for he promised me that Marta will really wear me for the finals, but you all know that it didn’t happen and Marta still wore M5… THAT HE B*$H!+ ME TWICE!,” he said.
Fernandez said he was “devastated” and even cried in his hotel room.
“I FELT FRUSTRATED, CHEATED… and I questioned my talent and skill as a designer! Until the stress and anxiety level escalated, and I felt half of my body paralyzed. It was the scariest moment of my life. Luckily, there was this supporter of Catriona, a licensed Physical Therapist in Dubai, who helped me. If not, I might not have seen the light of day,” he shared.
After that incident, he never received any explanation or apology from their team, he continued.
“I know that I shouldn’t be counting the cost of that dreadful experience (both financially, mentally & psychologically) because I wanted to be part of Marta’s Miss Universe journey. To sir Michael Cinco’s point, a simple THANK YOU would do! But those 2 simple words that could have eased my anxiety was not even uttered by Denis Martin Davila, Marta Magdalena Stepien and Miss Universe Canada organization.”
He hopes it will be a lesson to all of the Filipino designers.
“Never shall we be scammed again by this MUC organization!”
Fernandez also sent his message to Denis and his team.
“Please have some gratitude and a little sense of professionalism when dealing with people who want to help your queen. Please have a little shame. May this be the end of your swindler personality!”
Source: Manila Bulletin, 5/24/2021
