Beauty salons across the Philippines have announced their closure on November 19, Philippine time. Why, you ask? 

Well, it’s not a national holiday or a sudden appreciation for a weekend break. No, it’s something far more critical – the Super Bowl of the LGBTQ+ community, the Miss Universe pageant.

As the nation braces itself for the fierce competition, beauty enthusiasts are taking a day off from their regular routines to collectively watch and cheer for the Filipina candidate. The stakes are high, and so are the emotions of hairdressers, makeup artists, and nail technicians. 

Salons will resume operations on Monday, provided Michelle Dee secures her spot in the top 5 or brings home the crown.

Heaven forbid if she doesn’t make it – you wouldn’t want to face the wrath of a disgruntled hair and makeup artist with your unstyled hair or chipped nails. 

It seems in the Philippines; the pursuit of beauty takes a back seat only when the crown is at stake.