MANILA — Gazini Ganados has officially started her Miss Universe pre-pageant activities in Atlanta, Georgia, donning a gown that’s uniquely Filipino for her first event on Friday.

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A post shared by Akmad M. Kari, Jr. RN (@kari09kari) on Nov 28, 2019 at 8:12pm PST

The Philippine representative wore an Inaul dress by Mindanao designer Akmad Kari to a thanksgiving dinner hosted by the Miss Universe Organization.

Inaul is the traditional woven cloth of Maguindanao.

Earlier on Friday (Manila time), Ganados was welcomed by fellow Filipinos upon her arrival in Atlanta.

She even waved a Philippine flag at the airport, as seen in her Instagram post.

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A post shared by Gazini C. J. Ganados (@gazinii) on Nov 28, 2019 at 4:01pm PST

“Maraming salamat, mga kababayan ko! Honored to be raising our flag on this side of the world!” she captioned the photo.

Ganados is hoping to claim a back-to-back win for the Philippines, following the reign of the 2018 titlist, Catriona Gray.

Should Ganados achieve the feat, the Philippines will become only the second country to have back-to-back winning representatives in Miss Universe, after Venezuela’s 2008 and 2009 reigns.