Jojo Bragais sashays on 69th Miss Universe stage

By Jose Patao Jr - April 23, 2021

ANOTHER Filipino has done us proud in the Miss Universe Pageant and he is none other than the country’s “King of the Heel” Jose Joaquin “Jojo” Bragais who was picked as the footwear sponsor for the pageant’s 69th edition scheduled for May 16 (May 17 PH time) in Hollywood City, Florida.

Bragais, whose most sought-after pageant heels has been worn by the country’s most celebrated beauty queens, announced on Monday the good news. It will be the first time a Filipino shoe brand will be worn by the 75 delegates of this year’s tilt, stepping up into the league of global brands like Chinese Laundry and Payless Shoes which also have been worn by Miss Universe beauties in previous pageants.

Two hundred pairs of Jehza Shoes will be provided by Bragais for this year’s delegates. Named after Bb. Pilipinas-Supranational 2018 Jehza Huelar-Simon, the Jehza line was the first to be named after a beauty queen who wore his famous pageant heels.

Jojo will have the shoes in three shades: cream, mocca and cocoa to give the contestants the liberty to select which best fits their skin tone. The delegates will also get a pair of the same shoes in silver for the finals.

Last Wednesday, reigning Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi and Bragais went live on Miss Universe IG with Pinoy designer Bessie Besana moderating the discussion which tackled what makes a winning walk and their most memorable walks.

For Jojo, whose world-class brand “understands how walks in life can make or break one’s ability to win,” his shoes are designed to be tall but strong and uncompromising in comfort and style, as proven by the winning queens in some of the most important runways around the world.

For Zozibini, a winning walk is one done with conviction and pride for oneself, one’s country and to the universe that she represents. She also flaunted the silver pair of Bragais Shoes she received recently.

The longest-reigning Miss Universe, Zozibini also cited walking up front stage to deliver her final statement that eventually clinched the third crown for her native South Africa.

Jojo, meanwhile, recalls how he walked into an old, rundown shoe factory in Rizal and, using only his gut feel, decided right then and there to buy the building and put up his own shoe factory even if he knew nothing about the footwear business.

Jojo joins the long list of Filipinos who proudly carried the Philippine tricolors in Miss Universe: our 4 Miss Universe titleholders Gloria Diaz, Margie Moran, Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray; our 8 Miss Universe judges Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, Josie Cruz Natori, Kuh Ledesma, Dr. Emilio T. Yap, Lea Salonga, Manny Pacquiao, Monique Lhuillier and Rachel Singson-Michael; and Miss Universe skincare partner Olivia Quido-Co.

The 75 Miss Universe delegates will be arriving in Florida on May 6 and 7 with a good number already there, including Miss Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo who, together with her team, are on a self-imposed quarantine since it is not required in the “Sunshine State.”

The crucial closed-door interviews with the judges and national costume show will be held on May 13, the preliminary competitions on May 14 and the televised finals on May 16. The days in between the dates mentioned will be spent for photo and video shoots and rehearsals.

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