Ngayong May 25, Martes, ang 26th birthday ni Miss Universe Canada 2020 Nova Stevens.
Ngunit sa halip na mga pagbati ay masasakit na salita ang natatanggap niya mula sa bashers dahil pa rin sa paratang ng international fashion designer na si Michael Cinco na hindi siya marunong tumanaw ng utang na loob.
Sa kanyang Instagram account, na muli niyang ginawang public, ibinahagi ni Nova ang screenshots ng mga banta ng bashers laban sa kanya.
Nakababahala ang mga salitang "die" at "commit suicide" at maging ang racial slur na n-word na ipinadala sa kanya ng mga basher.
"SPONSORSHIP IS NOT CHARITY"
Muling nagsalita si Nova tungkol sa isyu sa pagitan ni Michael at ng MGMode/Miss Universe Canada Organization, ang team na sumuporta sa pagsali niya sa 69th Miss Universe na naganap sa Hollywood, Florida noong May 16, 2021.
Sa kanyang Instagram birthday post, nilinaw ni Nova ang pagkakaiba ng sponsorship at charity na may kaugnayan pa rin sa pagpayag ni Michael na maging sponsor ng mga gown na gagamitin niya sa 69th Miss Universe.
Pahayag ng Canadian beauty queen, “I don’t usually dignify drama/hate with a response because I believe in feeding only what feeds my soul. However this has personally attacked me so I feel the need to clarify a few things:
"Designers & pageant contestants enter into sponsorship agreements regularly.
“Just as they do at award shows or any other public event, its not “free”. It involves an immense amount of effort+negotiation on both sides.
“My team worked hard to secure a deal with Michael without having a big budget as Canada is not a major pageant country and we don’t have the type of support some other countries do. Michael and my team had an agreement to sponsor the main contest gowns.
“SPONSORSHIP IS NOT CHARITY; it is an agreement to lend a gown to a public figure in return for PR, publicity and safe return of the gown."
Diin ni Nova, ilang beses niyang pinasalamatan si Michael sa social media at maging sa interviews. Taliwas ito sa pahayag ng Filipino international fashion designer na "ungrateful" ang Canadian beauty queen at ang team nito dahil hindi raw sila marunong magpasalamat.
Saad ni Stevens, "As of now, I have 10 posts that are still up thanking him, not including interviews where I always made sure to mention him, nor the many personal videos thanking him from the bottom of my heart."
Iginiit din ni Stevens na hindi nag-fit nang husto ang gown na dinisenyo ni Cinco sa preliminary competition kaya nagdesisyon ang kanyang team na ibang gown na lang ang suotin niya.
“As you all know, even in the best intentioned deals, things can and did go wrong.
"In my case, the preliminary gown did not end up fitting perfectly.This was important because it affects scoring.
"So we made the decision to wear a different gown (thank you to Virgilio Madinah)."
DEATH THREATS, INSULTS
Bukod sa paglilinaw tungkol sa magkaibang kahulugan ng sponsorship at charity, inamin at humingi ng paumanhin si Nova sa pagkakamali ng kanyang team na magkomentong hindi dumating sa oras ang gown na ginawa ni Michael na dapat na gagamitin ng Canadian beauty queen sa preliminary competition ng 69th Miss Universe.
Saad ni Nova, “Unfortunately my team who had worked so hard was upset that Michael did not deliver his end and they did make a comment. This was WRONG on my team’s part.
“As part of my team, I fully apologize. I appreciate all his efforts and that perfect final gown. This is a disagreement that should have been handled in private and with maturity."
Sinabi rin ni Nova na tila labanan ng ego ang nangyayari.
“However, it has devolved into an ego clash on social media, and dragged me into the middle of it.
"I have been getting death threats, racist trolls are hurling despicable insults at me, and people are dragging my character with lies.
“What amazes me is that people seem to be more outraged at my alleged 'lack of thanks' rather than me being asked to die and receiving racist hate. I don’t deserve that.”
Para sa kanyang 26th birthday, plano ni Nova na magpahinga muna, kasama ang hiling na umiral sa puso ng mga tao ang pagmamahal at pang-unawa.
“Michael said he’d give us a war, but we are a peace loving nation and we don’t accept this war. We don’t accept racism. We don’t accept bullying.
“I personally love all my fellow contestants, I love every single one of my sponsors including Michael and I love my team.
“I don’t agree with the ego battle on either side and I’m sorry for any missteps on our part. I wish that people would find more love and understanding in their hearts.
“Now, I am going to go back to processing my wins and losses at Miss Universe. I will enjoy my birthday tomorrow and heal.
"I hope you can all take a break from the hate for a few days. Peace and love."