For decades, the image of the beautiful Filipina at the Cannes Film Festival in France was exemplified by Hilda Koronel. The acclaimed actress captivated the European press with her beauty and talent when her 1975 film, Insiang, directed by Lino Brocka, was screened in the Section Parallelle/Directors’ Fortnight in 1978.

So enamored were the media of Hilda that she landed on the front page of France-Soir, radiant in a Christian Espiritu creation.

Queens at Cannes

More and more Filipinas, whether with films in contention or just preening at the red carpet, have become a pretty sight in the South of France. In recent years, Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa, usually clad in a Mark Bumgarner number, is a frequent Cannes visitor.

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach has also become a Cannes fixture, along with one of her favorite haute couturiers, Michael Cinco.

Cinco, in turn, has dressed Miss World 1994 Aishwarya Rai for several years, as well as many Bollywood superstars like her.

New muse

In May this year, however, Cinco brought to Cannes his new muse — the Cebuana beauty and brains, Maria Priscilla “Happy” Melendres.

There was so much glamor in her first trip to Cannes. Happy saw supermodels Coco Rocha, Bella Hadid and Alessandra Ambrosio. And, a lot of Hollywood heavyweights such as Anya Taylor-Joy, Kevin Costner , Selena Gomez, Idris Elba, Demi Moore, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Yeoh.

“Happy became my new muse because I like her ability to effortlessly carry off bold and unique fashion choices, such as the pink fully embroidered high-slit gown with a three-meter-long train gown that she wore at the recent Cannes Film Festival,” Cinco shared.

He added, “That dress showcased her exceptional style and confidence on the red carpet. She also ordered a custom-made ombre blue to green gown with floor-sweeping sleeves that she also wore while in Cannes and I am proud to say that the gowns I made for her received high praises from attendees and the media.”

Happy shared: “I was very surprised that when I stepped into the red carpet, it felt so natural to me. It was only the following day that it sunk in to me, and I screamed, ‘OMG!! I just walked the red carpet at Cannes yesterday!’ I just felt so grateful.”