EXCLUSIVE: Gazini Ganados Wears Heritage and Hope For Palestine at GMA Gala 2025
In an exclusive interview with Art+, the former beauty queen shares the story behind her striking look.
Words Jaymar Aquino
Photos courtesy of Mark Neto Diaz
August 5, 2025
One thing about Filipina beauty queens is that they don’t just wear gowns—they wear stories.
It’s a legacy of meaning stitched into every hem, one that arguably found its spark with Miss Universe 2018, Catriona Gray. Her reign redefined pageant fashion by threading culture and commentary into couture. From then on, substance became the new silhouette. So it comes as no surprise that her successor, Miss Universe Philippines 2019, Gazini Ganados, followed the same sartorial path.
At Binibining Pilipinas and Miss Universe 2019, the Cebuana beauty queen wore phoenix-inspired gowns that captured the spirit of transformation. Then came the mythic goddess, encased in a sculpted, serpentine metallic gown with two Philippine Eagles perched on her shoulders for the Miss Universe 2019 National Costume show. Her statement rises again, fierce and undeniable—this time at the GMA Gala 2025.
Elegance as an armor
Now a Kapuso artist, the 29-year-old beauty queen wore a Rian Fernandez creation with sharp, architectural shoulders cut in matte black. The fabric sculpted the arms and torso with clean precision, cinching at the waist before falling into a skirt of glossy black fringe. Layered just below the waist, the fringe added texture and movement without excess. Sleek from every angle, the look was unmistakably polished, intentional, and commanding.
But for Ganados, this night carried a deeper meaning. “I walked into the GMA Gala with a weight lifted off my shoulders, knowing that I carry a message of solidarity,” she says. Her presence was not just about fashion or beauty—it was personal. “I wasn’t just showing up for myself. I was carrying the love, resilience, and pain of my family in Gaza.” At the heart of her look was a striking collar encrusted with black crystals that formed a lattice inspired by the Keffiyeh—a detail that spoke volumes without a word.
The pattern that speaks
The Keffiyeh, also known as a hatta, is a traditional Arab headdress rooted in the nomadic Bedouin tribes of historic Palestine. Woven from cotton, it bears distinctive patterns that have become symbols of identity. Among its many color variations, the black-and-white pattern has become the most recognizable emblem of Palestinian culture.
The fishnet motif is said to represent Palestinians’ connection to the sea, while the bold lines recall ancient trade routes that made Palestine a crossroads of commerce. Although these interpretations lack firm historical proof, they have grown deeply meaningful to Palestinians in the diaspora, who embrace the symbols as a connection to their heritage.
For the half-Palestinian beauty queen, her appearance on the blue carpet was an opportunity to tell a story that many tried to ignore. “Wearing the keffiyeh over my heart was a symbol of hope and unity," Ganados shares. “A reminder that even in spaces of celebration, our stories, our struggles, and our humanity deserve to be seen and heard. This moment was about honoring them and making sure their voices are never forgotten.”
Fashion as protest
The former beauty titleholder has long used her platform to spotlight the ongoing war in Palestine. Whether sharing video call screenshots with her father amid Israel’s aerial bombardment of Gaza or urging her followers to pray for the families caught in the conflict, she knows the world must listen and act. But this time, she spoke through fashion. In a sea of sparkle, she carried the strength of a nation that refuses to fade. Her silhouette may be sharp, but her message cuts even deeper.
As our conversation came to a close, Ganados reflected on the enduring role of women like her—those who once wore the crown. “As beauty queens, it’s in our nature to shed light on the underrepresented and the underprivileged. It’s part of who we are—not just when it’s easy or widely accepted, but especially when it’s uncomfortable or goes against what’s considered ‘safe.’” And in moments like this, when the world is quick to quiet uncomfortable truths, she refuses to lower her voice. “Speaking out for Palestine has come with pushback, criticism, silence, and discomfort. But staying silent is gravely sinful. Human rights shouldn’t be controversial, and if I have a platform, I have a duty to use it.”
As of this writing, food, water, and medical supplies remain critically scarce in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli blockade and inadequate aid distribution by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that 175 people have died from starvation, including 93 children. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli military has killed over 60,400 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023, the majority of whom are women and children.
Photographed by Mark Neto Diaz
Styling by Vhee Co
Makeup by Mark Joseph Tabuzo
Hair by Jessie Ardales
