ART ON THE SIDELINES

Few things are as deeply rooted in our organism as our fascination for the beautiful and good – whether it be our fascination for beautiful faces, architecture or beautiful clothes. We have bowed down to beauty and we always will. Even history can provide us amazing evidence that beauty is undeniably powerful.

Where I come from, for example, beauty pageants are taken seriously. Beauty pageant telecasts are usually watched communally and almost next to Manny Pacquiao’s boxing match, have the power to decongest our streets from vehicular traffic – instantly.

Wikipedia states that the Philippines is the seventh country (after France, Brazil, Australia, Venezuela, India and Ecuador) to win two titles in the same year and also the third country (after India and Venezuela) to win two of the Big Four pageants in one year multiple times. In addition, the Philippines has also won Miss Supranational in 2013, making the Philippines the first country to win all five pageants.

In my country’s history in the pageantry, nothing was as controversial as the coronation of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. It was the year when Donald Trump bought out the Organization to another corporation (watch here until the end to find out what happened). Even months later, there was still massive word war in social media between pageant fans from the Philippines and Colombia.

This August Art on the Sidelines gives a nod to beauty in its physical form. Together with Mr. Bessie Besana, I conceptually explored the world of beauty queens, beauty pageants and fashion design.

Mr. Bessie Besana is a pageant coach and famous young designer from the Philippines who dresses pageant queens, contestants and local celebrities. Additionally he also acts as consultant for international beauty pageants.

Bessie with Ms. Pia Wurtzbach after Miss Universe 2015 coronation in Las Vegas

Tell us a bit about your background. How did you end up as a designer?

I studied civil engineering in one of the prestigious universities in the country. While still a student, I was already helping out friends who are into design as a hobby and as way to express my creativity. I loved math and figures.

I graduated and have worked as a civil engineer for big companies for 9 years until my last assignment as an expat in Hong Kong. At 29, while in Hong Kong, I realized that my heart was not really in engineering but in fashion design. I wanted to be more creative. I wanted to create my own rules and not be subjected strictly to rules made by someone else for me.

I went to Slim’s Fashion and Arts School in the Philippines, where Michael Cinco and Albert Andrada also went and through my network of friends, met Miss Pia Wurtzbach.

Has your job as a fashion designer transformed you?

2008-2012 were important years to me. I didn’t have a lot of confidence back then. But then in 2012 I stopped thinking about what people say and think. As long as I’m happy, contented and am not stepping on anyone’s toes, I’d go for it.

Christi McGarry, Miss Intercontinental 1st runner-up, wears a traditional filipiniana costume from Bessie Besana in Magdeburg, Germany

What makes your creations stand out? What’s your signature?

I think of my woman. I have a target market. I target women of influence – women who value good clothing and women who are not afraid to be bold with their choices and who are at the same time classy and elegant, very clean and feminine. Think of Kate Middleton and you’ll understand my signature.

I design clothes that my women would want to wear over and over, dresses that they are comfortable with and would make them linger in a given occasion instead of hurrying back home.

Are beauty pageants still relevant nowadays? What can you say about beauty pageants objectifying women?

I have been asked this question so many times! Why can’t we just leave beauty pageants as they are? Beauty pageants are beauty pageants – it’s a celebration of beautiful women. You may think that women are being objectified in beauty pageants but think about the many charity work they do and support and most of them are not even publicized. Forget about the glitz and glamor but it’s what they do after the show that’s more important.

I very well know that Miss World does a lot of charity work. They even removed the swimsuit competition from their program. Were you aware that Miss World sponsored one charity ward at the Philippine General Hospital and even sent one girl for treatment? It was on the papers so people can do their research.

Miss Universe on the other hand gives you the chance of becoming a celebrity and use it for your own cause. You become an influencer and Pia uses it for her HIV advocacy.

Bessie with Miss World 2013 Megan Young

What was the biggest break in your career?

Pia was invited to a ball in September 2015 after winning Miss Philippines – Universe and  she didn’t have anything to wear. I was asked to design the ball gown for her and she came out in the Top Ten Bessed Dressed Women at the ball. She was noticed and everyone was saying that she was indeed Miss Universe ready. That was like the first phase of my validation.

Pia in a Bessie Besana gown

What is beauty?

I classify beauty in two:

First, beauty comes from within. Not everybody could be a supermodel – not everyone could have a body like Pia. Embrace who you are and find that one beautiful and unique thing about you. And I try to accentuate it.

Second is physical beauty. Not everything is perfect in everyone physically and I just try to create an illusion. That’s where the physical aspect of having a good posture comes in. Invest in yourself. Be confident. Nowadays there is an answer to almost every physical flaw. If you’re ugly and you don’t do something about it, then you’re really at fault.

Pia in a Bessie Besana creation

What is art?

Art is an expression of one’s self. I’m happy that I create art for my clients. The dresses I make is an expression of both of us.

Any downside to your job?

I miss the idea of being in an environment where I’m really working. Now that I have my own staff, it’s hard to be at the same level of trust and confidence with your staff.

I don’t really have anything else to complain about. I learned to always look at my life like a glass half full instead of a glass half empty.

Local celebrity Bianca Manalo in a B. Besana creation

Local celebrity Marian Rivera in a B. Besana creation

Megan Young in a B. Besana creation

Any goals you still wish to achieve?

My ultimate dream is to be the premiere bridal designer in the Philippines. I also want to be known in the pageant industry, ultimately Miss World and Miss Universe.

I also want to have a nicer shop and would like to export clothes abroad too. Probably ready to wear bridal gowns.

Any words of advice to aspiring young fashion designers?

Don’t stop. Just keep on igniting the fire within you. There will be a lot of hurdles that you’ll need to overcome to be able to get to some place but after that, it will all be worth it.

Bessie with Miss World 2013 Megan Young and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach

For more info about Bessie and his creations, visit http://bessiebesana.com.

Main photo from youtube.com
In-text photos are provided by Mr. Besana