Fresh from being crowned the Philippines’ second Miss Supranational, Katrina Llegado has another beauty detail drawing attention: the lifted, elongated eye makeup that has become part of her pageant glam.

On July 31, Katrina Llegado was crowned Miss Supranational 2026 at the Strzelecki Park Amphitheater in Nowy Sącz, Poland, where 67 women competed for the title. Her win brought the crown back to the Philippines 13 years after Mutya Datul became the country’s first Miss Supranational in 2013.
Now, as Llegado begins her reign, there is plenty to take in from her time at Miss Supranational, from the gowns and styling to the beauty looks that accompanied them.
But one detail kept catching our attention: the eyes.
Across several appearances, Llegado’s eye makeup returned to a similar shape—defined, elongated, and drawn slightly upward at the outer corners. Even as the rest of the look changed, that lifted effect remained a familiar part of her glam.

For makeup artist Donald Lapez, who has worked with Llegado across her pageant journey, the approach begins with what is already there.
“Katrina has [a] beautifully proportioned, slightly elongated eye shape,” Lapez says. Rather than trying to change it, he works with her natural features while keeping the eyes “open, lifted, and sophisticated,” particularly for the stage and photoshoots.
Much of that effect comes down to direction.
Lapez concentrates depth toward the outer part of the eyes, blending the shadow slightly upward and outward. He keeps the eyeliner lighter at the inner corners before gradually building definition toward the sides, while the lashes add length and lift without placing too much weight through the center.
“All three elements—shadow, liner, and lashes—have to work together to create that elongated effect,” he explains.
There is another trick involved, too, though this one happens beyond the makeup chair.
Lapez says pageant hair and makeup artists sometimes use what they call an “instant facelift,” taking a small section of hair near the temple or behind the ears and securing it tightly away from the face to create an added lifted effect.

The look itself was not fixed from the beginning. Lapez says it developed naturally as they learned which details worked best with Llegado’s features.
“The goal is not to impose a trend on someone,” he says. “You study the person’s features, understand their personality, and then develop a signature that feels natural to them.”
That signature, however, does not mean repeating exactly the same makeup every time.
Through different pageants and appearances, Lapez says they have learned how the look needs to shift depending on the stage, lighting, and type of photography. Some moments call for something softer and more refined; others need stronger definition to register under pageant lights.
“The foundation of her look remains consistent, but the execution continues to evolve with her,” he says.
For anyone with a similar eye shape hoping to recreate the effect, Lapez recommends blending the eyeshadow upward and outward rather than straight toward the temple. He suggests starting with a soft transition shade, gradually building darker color at the outer corner, and keeping the highest point of the blend slightly lifted. The liner and lashes can then follow that same direction.
And the wing does not have to be dramatic.
“The key is subtlety—you don’t need a very dramatic wing to create a lifted eye,” he says. “Sometimes, the smallest adjustment in direction can make the biggest difference.”
As Llegado steps into her Miss Supranational reign, the lifted eye is no longer simply something that appeared across several looks. It has become part of the beauty language she and Lapez have developed together, and one we may continue to see in different forms throughout her reign.

A Closer Look at Katrina Llegado’s Signature Eye

Recommended posts for you

Fashion

Big Bag Theory: Why the Internet Is Obsessed With This Large Leather Flap Bag

Fashion

Everything You Need to Know About New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2027

Hommes

Bell & Ross Gives Its New BR-X5 a Rock Solid Dial

Beauty