Angelica Mesisca Barrientos wears controversial ‘Free Palestine’ dress to Flemington’s Birdcage

A glamorous businesswoman has ramped up her controversial Derby Day dress campaign calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, making an impassioned plea to the Prime Minister online.

Glamorous businesswoman Angelica Mesisca Barrientos has stepped up her controversial Derby Day campaign by calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The skincare clinic boss sent Flemington’s famous Birdcage into a flap by wearing a “Free Palestine” designer dress into the VIP zone.

Her dress, which carried the messages ‘Free Palestine’ ‘Where’s Humanity?’ and ‘Ceasefire Now,’ did not contravene VRC dress code rules.

Ms Barrientos wore a long coat over the outfit while entering Flemington’s VIP zone at the weekend and made her costume reveal on the viewing deck of the Penfolds marquee.

Jewish leaders, however, reacted to the dress drama by calling on the VRC to ban politically-charged attire.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Ms Barrientos took to Instagram to amplify her campaign.

“There is no honour in silently witnessing a genocide,” she said alongside a picture of her appearance in the Penfolds marquee on Derby Day.

“This is not a statement of antisemitism, nor support for terrorism. This is a reminder of our shared humanity – a call to stop the indiscriminate killing of innocent people. Ceasefire now!”

Ms Barrientos tagged Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Senator Penny Wong in her post.designer dress.

Angelica Mesisca Barrientos wearing a ‘Free Palestine’ dress. Picture: Ena Vujcic

The back of her dress said ‘Where Is Humanity? Ceasefire Now’. Picture: Ena Vujcic

It comes after Ms Barrientos earlier said the protest dress, made by SA designer Cadell Canute, was her desperate call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“The statement I’m making is, we need to be paying more attention to what’s going on in the world, and the Australian government needs to take a stand about what’s going on in the world,” Ms Barrientos told the Herald Sun.

She added: “We need to stop the genocide that is happening in Palestine. No-one can look at what’s happening in the Middle East and think it’s OK, or justify it by any means.

“I thought what better place to raise awareness about this issue, and speak up, than the Melbourne Cup. I knew it would be controversial, but for me, I can either be silent and complicit with what’s going on, or I can speak out against it.”

Ms Barrientos, founder and owner of Sculpt skincare clinics in Adelaide, said many in the Birdcage praised her outfit. “I’ve had rounds of applause and positive comments,” she said. “Everybody has been supportive.”

Ms Barrientos in the Penfolds marquee on Derby Day at Flemington. Picture: Ena Vujcic

But Jewish community leader Daniel Aghion said the VRC should ban politically-charged clothing at Flemington.

“Regrettably, local sport seems to have become a platform for political statements,” Mr Aghion, president of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, said.

“We saw a ‘Free Palestine’ banner at an A-League game in Melbourne and now this attire at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

“We would urge race organisers to consider whether it is appropriate for political messages to be prominently displayed by race goers. Highly visible political protests like this alienate other racegoers and create a highly charged, culturally unsafe environment, especially at this time.”

Yossi Goldfarb, president of Zionism Victoria, added: “Perhaps (Ms Barrientos) should stick to what she does well rather than horsing around in the Birdcage while 240 innocent Israelis are still being held captive by Hamas.”

VRC chief executive Steve Rosich told the Herald Sun: “We acknowledge and recognise there is conflict in the world right now and our thoughts are with everyone impacted.

“We have rules prohibiting clothing carrying messages which are deliberately offensive or designed to disrupt the event, or slogans supporting banned groups.”

Originally published as Angelica Mesisca Barrientos wears controversial ‘Free Palestine’ dress to Flemington’s Birdcage