Veterans, rookies clash for Miss Universe Philippines 2024 crown

Stay tuned for more Miss Universe Philippines 2024 updates!

Miss Universe Philippines bets Tarah Valencia, Ahtisa Manalo, Alexie Mae Brooks and Christi Lynn McGarry. Image: screengrab from YouTube/Empire Philippines

Many people are expecting a “bloodbath” in this year’s edition of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant, with international pageant veterans among the aspirants. But national contest rookies have stepped up their game, not making it a walk in the park for the seasoned contenders.

Binibining Pilipinas alumnae Ahtisa Manalo and Christi McGarry, along with 2021 Miss Universe Philippines-Charity Victoria Velasquez Vincent, are leading the charge among the veterans, while newbies Alexie Mae Brooks and Tarah Valencia have presented themselves as formidable contenders as well.

READ: Miss Universe Philippines 2024 prelims glitches, delayed airing dismay fans

The Miss Universe Philippines 2024 coronation night will be on Wednesday night (May 22) at 8PM at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, where reigning queen Michelle Marquez Dee will crown the winner, who will compete in the 73rd Miss Universe competition in Mexico later this year.

Here are the ladies who have been making an impact since the competition began in February:

Ahtisa Manalo, Quezon Province

Ma. Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon Province.

The 2018 Miss International first runner-up received encouragement from her Bb. Pilipinas batchmate and 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray the moment she confirmed her return to the national pageant stage. She also collected the most awards at the preliminary competition show and other auxiliary activities. She is also among the leading delegates in the online poll for all the challenges (Swimsuit, Interview, and Runway).

Christi Lynn McGarry, Taguig City

Christi Lynn McGarry of Taguig City

The two-time Miss Intercontinental participant and 2015 first runner-up in the said global pageant has her Bb. Pilipinas batchmate and 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach as her most prominent cheerleader. The DJ, host, and environmental advocate was proclaimed as Miss So-En, Miss Jewelmer, and Miss Wuling at the preliminaries, and is among the leaders in the Interview Challenge poll.

Victoria Velasquez Vincent, Bacoor City

Victoria Velasquez Vincent of Bacoor City

Crowned as Miss Universe Philippines-Charity in the 2021 pageant, she has received encouraging words from her batchmates, 70th Miss Universe Top 5 finisher Beatrice Luigi Gomez, and Miss Universe Philippines-Tourism Katrina Dimaranan. The architect and heritage conservationist received the Miss Kemans and Miss Hello Glow Body titles at the preliminaries, where she was also announced as one of the Zonrox Color Safe Casting Reel winners.

Alexie Mae Brooks, Iloilo City

Alexie Mae Brooks of Iloilo City

When the national athlete convincingly won the Miss Iloilo pageant in January, she earned praises from Rabiya Mateo, winner of the local pageant’s first edition, and also the first-ever Miss Universe Philippines pageant, who hosted the competition. The Ilongga delegate has built a strong following since then, and became one of the leading delegates in the online poll for all the challenges. She has already collected P300,000 for being proclaimed as Miss Jell Life at the preliminaries, where she also received the Miss Buscopan Venus award, was announced as one of the Zonrox Color Safe Casting Reel winners along with Manalo and Vincent. She was also hailed as Miss Arete Tagayatay at an auxiliary event with a group of delegates.

Tarah Valencia, Baguio City

Tarah Valencia of Baguio City

The cum laude Tourism Management graduate from the University of Baguio was crowned as Miss Baguio Turismo at the 2023 Miss Baguio pageant, and was designated as the City of Pines’ Miss Universe Philippines delegate in February. She received the Miss Mags and Miss Villa Medica awards at the preliminaries, and is one of the Aqua Angels, Arete Tagaytay Goddesses, and Hello Glow Top 6.

Stacey Gabriel, Cainta

Stacey Gabriel of Cainta

The 2022 Bb. Pilipinas second runner-up dabbled in professional acting before embarking on her pageant journey. She is now busy leading her late grandmother’s prison ministry, sharing the word of God among senior women deprived of liberty. She also became the first woman to receive the Miss We Sportz title from Aqua Boracay, and is among the eight Aqua Angels and 20 Arete Tagaytay Goddesses.

Kris Tiffany Janson, Cebu

Kris Tiffany Janson of Cebu

Another Bb. Pilipinas alumna, she surprised many when she signed up for the Miss Universe Philippines Cebu competition a decade after finishing third in the Miss Intercontinental contest. At 34, the commercial model and host is still a serious contender for the title. She was chosen as the “Icon Doll” by The Icon Clinic at the preliminaries, and is one of the 20 Arete Tagaytay Goddesses.

Dia Maté, Cavite

Dia Maté of Cavite

The professional musician is the current flame of singer JK Labajo, ex-beau of 2021 Miss Universe Philippines first runner-up Maureen Wroblewitz. She was proclaimed as Miss Cream Silk during the preliminaries, and is one of the leading bets in the Swimsuit Challenge poll. She is also one of the Aqua Angels and Arete Tagaytay Goddesses.

Patricia Bianca Tapia, Hawaii

Patricia Bianca Tapia of Hawaii

The delegate was born with hearing impairment, and moved to the United States at a young age. She is among the five leading bets in the online poll for both the Swimsuit Challenge and the Interview Challenge.

Stephanie Faye Gerona, Quirino

Stephanie Faye Gerona of Quirino

This mother of three has enjoyed the support of online voters by cracking the Top 5 of both the Interview Challenge and Runway Challenge.

Kayla Carter, Northern California

Kayla Carter of Northern California

This pageant newbie was in a reality show in the US. She has turned heads in her first beauty contest quest and was chosen as one of the Aqua Angels and Arete Tagaytay Goddesses.

Chelsea Manalo, Bulacan

Chelsea Manalo of Bulacan

She is one of the few dusky ladies in the competition, and earned rave reviews for her performance at the preliminary competition. She also received the Miss Jojo Bragais award from the pageant’s official shoe provider.

Jet Hammond, Southern California

Jet Hammond of Southern California

The happily married jet-setter received positive feedback from many observers for her preliminary performance. She is also among the five leading delegates in the poll for the Swimsuit Challenge.

Cyrille Payumo, Pampanga

Cyrille Payumo of Pampanga

This seasoned model has already brought pride to the Philippines by becoming the fifth Filipino woman to be crowned Miss Tourism International in Malaysia. She was not supposed to compete there, but as first runner-up in the 2019 Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant, she was first in line to replace the original delegate who failed to meet eligibility requirements of the global tilt. She is one of the Top 6 delegates announced at the Hello Glow fashion show held last month.

Alexandra Rosales, Laguna

Alexandra Rosales of Laguna

Another Bb. Pilipinas alumna, this educator is the first Filipino woman to win in the Miss Supermodel Worldwide contest in India. She brought home the crown in 2022.

Raven Doctor, Palawan

Raven Doctor of Palawan

The statuesque contender caught the attention of pageant pundits with her flawless performance at the swimsuit show held in Boracay last month, and has since been getting positive feedback online.

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