(From left) Chelsea Manalo and Tyra Banks. Images: Instagram/@manalochelsea, @tyrabanks
Chelsea Manalo is one elated fangirl as her Miss Universe 2024 portraits caught the attention of one of her idols, supermodel and TV host Tyra Banks.
Banks showed her admiration toward Manalo as she praised the latter’s Miss Universe 2024 portrait, as seen in the comments of the beauty queen’s Instagram post last October 18.
“Get it, girl!!!!!” the supermodel said.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@manalochelsea
It seemed that Banks looked through Manalo’s profile, as she penned another comment at one of the Filipino-American stunner’s photos. The supermodel eventually followed the latter on Instagram.
“Work!!!” Banks said.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@manalochelsea
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@tyrabanks
This led to Manalo taking to her Instagram Story to rejoice over Banks’ recognition.
“OMG!!!!!!!” she wrote while resharing her Miss Universe 2024 portrait.
Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@manalochelsea
The Miss Universe Philippines organization also expressed its support for Manalo being noticed by Banks on Instagram, noting that the beauty queen is “universally loved.”
“When the legend herself, Tyra Banks, notices our very own Miss Universe Philippines, Chelsea Manalo. You deserve all this,” it said in one of its posts.
Manalo said in an “In Her Shoes” docuseries that she considers Banks as one of her idols, with the Bulacan-based beauty queen sharing that she sees herself in the latter’s journey.
“Actually isa sa mga tao na nag-inspire sa akin at a very young age, it was Ms. Tyra Banks… I saw myself in her [and] nakikinig na ako [at] the way she speaks. She motivates and influences people at a young age, like me. Ang laki ng impact eh (Actually, one of the people who inspired me at a very young age was Ms. Tyra Banks. I saw myself in her and I listen to the way she speaks. She motivates and influences people at a young age like me. She had a huge impact on my life.),” she said.
Manalo is hoping to win the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe crown after Catriona Gray in 2018. Considered a “dark horse” in her national pageant, she beat the frontrunners to win the coveted title.
The Miss Universe 2024 coronation night will be held on November 16 (November 17 in the Philippines) at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico. Reigning titleholder Sheynnis Palacios will pass her crown to her successor at the end of the global tilt.