Michael Cinco dresses at Cannes over the years, from Aishwarya Rai to Pia Wurtzbach

Filipino designer has been creating gowns for big stars from his Dubai studio

Former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach-Jauncey in a gown by Michael Cinco at the Cannes Film Festival 2024. AFP

Dubai Bling star Farhana Bodi in a custom dress in 2024. AFP

Cambodian actress Yubin Shin wearing a satin ballgown from Cinco's Japan-inspired spring/summer 2024 collection. AFP

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in 2017. Getty Images

The blue off-the-shoulder dress featuring detailed beading, embroidery and a voluminous skirt, is from Cinco's Impalpable Dream of Versailles collection. Getty Images

The gown is made up of ultra-violet, midnight blue and red threadwork, and is meant to mimic a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. Reuters

The elaborate dress took more than 3,000 hours to make, the designer said. Reuters

Indian actress Deepti Sadhwani in a bright yellow crystallised gown in 2024. Getty Images

Danish-Thai actress Sririta Jensen in 2019. Getty Images

Jensen's coral tulle layered gown was specially made for her by Cinco. Getty Images

Israeli TV presenter Hofit Golan at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival in a Cinco dress. Getty Images

Golan wore a Cinco dress again in 2018. It is from his autumn 2016 collection. Reuters

Swedish-Thai actress and model Praya Lundberg is another frequent collaborator, wearing a Cinco gown in 2018. Getty Images

Belgian model Rose Bertram in a Cinco creation in 2018. Getty Images

French model and Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere in 2019. Getty Images

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut in 2019. Getty Images

Miss Kosovo and Dubai resident Emilia Dobreva in 2022. Reuters

Indonesian actress Raline Shah in a Cinco dress in 2022. Getty Images

Shah's dress features hand-painted patterns inspired by the aurora borealis. Getty Images

Thai fashion personality Nichapat Suphap in a Cinco dress in 2022. Getty Images

Model Natalia Barulich in an embroidered blue and gold Cinco gown in 2022. Getty Images

Saudi influencer Eleen Suliman in a yellow Michael Cinco gown on the closing night in 2022. Getty Images

Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela in a Michael Cinco dress on the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival 2025. Getty Images

Thai model and beauty queen Veena Praveenar Singh was seen on the second night on Thursday in a voluminous 'black liquid' gazar gown by Cinco at the premiere of Dossier 137 (Case 137) in 2025. Getty Images

From his studio in the Dubai Design District, Filipino designer Michael Cinco has been sending his lavish, ornate dresses to some of the biggest events around the world. His creations have been worn by Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Kylie Jenner, Madonna, Mariah Carey and others.

But the Cannes Film Festival holds a special place in Cinco's heart. Ever since Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wore his design – a voluminous blue gown from his Impalpable Dream of Versailles collection – in 2017, Cinco has been dressing some of the biggest stars to have walked the red carpet at one of the world's most prestigious film festivals.

Cinco collaborated with Rai Bachchan once again the following year, with the actress and L'Oreal ambassador wearing a butterfly-inspired dress featuring a three-metre-long train. The crystal-smothered ensemble took 3,000 hours to craft and was meant to represent a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis.

“It has been always my dream to see A-list Hollywood and international stars wearing my couture creations on the red carpet,” Cinco tells The National. “Watching these glamorous actresses from all over the world in Michael Cinco is a dream come true.”

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the butterfly-inspired dress by Cinco at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. AFP

This year is no different. Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela attended the opening ceremony of the long-running film festival in a stunning kaleidoscopic gown, which Cinco said was inspired by the vibrant mosaics of Mexican art. The colourful gown featured a bustle at the hip, led by a dramatic train in tulle.

Michael Cinco dressed Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela for the Cannes Film Festival. Photo: Michael Cinco

Thai model and beauty queen Veena Praveenar Singh was seen on the second night on Thursday in a voluminous "black liquid" gazar gown at the premiere of Dossier 137 (Case 137).

Last year, Cambodian actress Yubin Shin wore a voluminous “black liquid” dress for the premiere of the black comedy Kinds of Kindness, by Oscar-nominated director Yorgos Lanthimos. The satin ball gown is from Cinco's Japan-inspired spring/summer 2024 collection.

Indian actress Deepti Sadhwani was spotted in a Cinco creation, a bright yellow crystallised gown, at the premiere of Bird, starring Barry Keoghan.

Cinco also collaborated with model and former Miss Kosovo Emilia Dobreva, whom he's dressed at Cannes before. Dobreva wore a look from the Cinco's spring/summer 2004 collection, a shimmering black satin number.

Also last year, Dubai Bling star Farhana Bodi attended the premiere Le Comte de Monte-Cristo (The Count of Monte Cristo) in a striking custom-made blue gown by Cinco. The shimmering gown was accentuated by sculptural swirls that broke out on the side and extended in a dramatic train.

Reality show star Farhana Bodi at the premiere of The Count of Monte Cristo in 2024. Reuters

Also at the premiere of The Count of Monte Cristo was former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach-Jauncey, who wore a voluminous princess gown in pale blue designed by Cinco.

The satin ballgown featured a sheer upper and sleeves embedded with Swarovski crystals all over. Cinco said the dress was custom-made for the Filipina model, who he's dressed on many occasions.

Filipina model and former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach-Jauncey in a Cinco dress in 2024. Getty Images

Cinco, who moved to Dubai from the Philippines in 1997, established his namesake label in 2003. While a bulk of his customers – about 90 per cent, he estimates – are from the Gulf, with the rest primarily from Russia, Europe and the US, his influence is growing thanks to high-profile events such as the Cannes Film Festival.

“My dream to become a designer started when I was a kid,” Cinco told The National in 2019. “I loved watching classic Hollywood films. One of the best films I've ever watched was My Fair Lady with Audrey Hepburn, and that inspired me. It was like a dream, with the most beautiful costumes I'd ever seen in my life. When I watched that movie, I knew I would be a fashion designer some day.”

A version of this story was first published on May 24, 2024