Some of the candidates of the Miss Earth 2024 pageant. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA -- The Miss Earth 2024 made their catwalk appearance in Filipino designer pieces using indigenous materials at the Cove in Okada Manila on Wednesday.

In a timely tribute to National Indigenous Peoples Month this October, the candidates wore pieces made from materials that included abaca silk from Bicol, ikat from Ifugao and Cordillera, Inabel Cebu Hablon and Jusi, and the binakol fabric of Abra.

Miss Earth USA took the gold for the Philippine Heritage Attire Award, followed by Miss Earth Dominican Republic and Miss Earth Kenya. They were given their awards by Karen Ibasco, the Miss Earth winner in 2017.

“The designers are so talented. I feel like I came out of a fairytale. It’s so beautiful and I’m so humbled and so grateful,” said Miss Earth Australia Jessica Lane. 

Miss Earth Puerto Rico Bianca Nicole Caraballo was full of enthusiasm talking about her dress, which used handmade fabric designed by members of the Designers Circle Philippines. 

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“They told me they made this dress in one month, so I was so surprised. I was in shock.“ Caraballo said. “It looks amazing. It just works. I’m obsessed with it.” 

Meanwhile, the four winners of darling of the press were Miss Earth Australia, Miss Earth Iceland, Miss Earth US Virgin Islands, Miss Earth Earth Cabo Verde. 

The Best Appearance awardees were also presented with Miss Earth Cuba for the Americas, Miss Earth Mauritus for Africa, Miss Earth England for Europe, and Miss Earth Korea for Asia and Oceania. 

Gold winner Miss Earth USA Beatrice Millan-Windorski revealed she is also part-Filipina, with her mother migrating to America from Nueva Vizcaya. 

“Because I’m a proud daughter of a Filipina immigrant, I use my advocacy to promote the rights of climate displaced people worldwide,” Millan-Windorski said. 

Admitting that the climate crisis can be overwhelming, the first Filipina-American Miss Earth USA candidate believes that the future is still bright for the next generations. 

“It’s really inspirational to see what every young woman has accomplished in their country. I know the future is bright,” she said. 

“I work for the Miss Iceland Executive and I go to school to teach them about environmental awareness,” shared Miss Earth Iceland Hrafnhildur Haraldsdóttir. 

Philippine bet Irha Mel Alfeche says she’s extremely happy to have the country be the venue for the pageant’s 24th edition. 

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“Masayang masaya ako kasi heritage ngayon. I-promote natin ang sariling atin,” Alfeche said. 

When asked about the lessons she’s learned from her journey so far, Alfeche emphasized the friendship she gets to form with the other girls. 

“I learned that we really have differences but that differences never hinders us to have friendship,” she shared. 

The successor of Miss Earth 2023 Drita Ziri of Albania will be crowned on Nov. 9 at the same venue, The Cove in Okada Manila.