Zestah Shalom Espinosa, who represented Iloilo City in the recently concluded Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) 2026, has appealed for “a little more kindness and understanding” amid criticisms over her evening gown choice.

“The truth is, not everything you see or hear online tells everything. There’s always more beneath the surface, more that people don’t realize,” Espinosa said in a Facebook post.

“I’m not here to add to the negativity. I just hope we can choose a little more kindness and understanding, especially when things aren’t clear,” she added.

During the pageant’s Coronation Night on Saturday, May 2, Espinosa decided to wear an evening gown that was “not officially approved” by the Miss Iloilo Organization (MIO).

In a statement, MIO said Espinosa, who finished as a Top 15 finalist, made the decision “without prior notice or consultation” with them.

“As a result, the designer credited on-screen (Jo Rubio) was not the creator of the gown that was ultimately worn, leading to an unintended misatrributio of creative work,” the organization said.

“While we respect the delegate’s autonomy, the organization maintains clear guidelines to ensure coordination, professionalism, and proper recognition of all contributors,” it added.

In response, Espinosa’s team said the MIO-approved blue gown arrived “shortly before the pageant officially began, during an already highly pressured and time-sensitive preparation period backstage.”

“Following the swimsuit competition, while preparing for the evening gown segment, Zestah herself asked in the group chat which gown she should wear because she was uncertain about the best option under the circumstances,” it explained.

Members of the group, according to the team,  “responded that she should wear whichever gown she felt most comfortable and confident in.”

“This shows that the matter was openly discussed collectively and was a unilateral decision,” it stressed.

The team also shared that the white gown worn by Espinosa was “created two days before the pageant an an emergency backup option.”

“It was used only during training and rehearsals while awaiting the arrival of the official competition gown,” it said.

Meanwhile, Espinosa thanked all those who supporter her.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will carry your kindness with me always. I’ll be sharing a proper statement soon,” she said. IMT