Dominican fashion designer, Leonel Lirio has been recognized internationally once again, as reported in El Caribe today. Cynthia Olavarria, representative of the Puerto Rico town of Salinas, last Saturday won three awards in the first competition to choose the Puerto Rican candidate to the Miss Universe contest. Olavarria won the best dress, fantasy and best designer awards wearing outfits made for her by the Dominican designer.
Leonel Lirio first won international acclaim as a designer when Amelia Vega’s national dress won first prize during the Miss Universe 2003 contest. Likewise, Lirio also was responsible for the dress Vega won when she was crowned Miss Universe 2003.
Lirio had earlier won the second place for typical attire in the 2002 Miss Universe pageant, when he desired the costume used by Ruth Ocumarez, a runner up in that pageant.
The winning dress for the Miss Puerto Rico candidate is a white outfit with elaborate head piece and details that suggest the salt mines of the area that Olavarria represents. Lirio received a US$1,500 cash prize, a trophy and the right to design the typical dress that the Miss Puerto Rico will use during the Miss Universe pageant.