Reigning Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo/ARMIN P. ADINA
Reigning Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo will be carrying with her loads of encouragement and affirmations as she flies to Mexico on a quest to clinch the Miss Universe crown.
At her send-off press conference held at the grand ballroom of Hilton Manila in Pasay City on Oct. 10, she was showered with praises and well-wishes not only by her pageant sisters, but also by some of the most accomplished Filipino titleholders.
Among those who delivered their messages were some of the ladies who competed with her in the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant in May, including Christina Chalk who was later crowned as Miss Universe Great Britain.
Manalo also received a boost from Miss Universe Philippines officers Shamcey Supsup-Lee and Lia Andrea Ramos, who both represented the country in Miss Universe. Lee was third runner-up in 2011, while Ramos was Miss Photogenic in 2006.
Adding luster to the already impressive lineup of Manalo’s supporters was 2013 Miss Universe third runner-up Ara Arida, who also happened to be one of the judges in the national competition in May.
INQUIRER.net sat down with Manalo and asked her how she felt about the messages she received from the ladies. “It really did help me boost my confidence. I know that I am not alone when I go to Mexico. I will carry that in my chest, in my heart, with so much love and support,” she said.
For Manalo, such support is important when one goes to a competition like the Miss Universe pageant. “This is what can really make you go through in times when you feel like it’s challenging and it’s scary, the support that you get from these people. I’m so thankful for those messages,” she added.
The Bulakenya beauty will try to score the Philippines’ fifth victory in the Miss Universe pageant, following Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018).
The 73rd Miss Universe pageant will hold its final competition at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City on Nov. 16 (Nov. 17 in Manila). More than 120 ladies from around the world will participate.