Miss Universe 2024: Philippines’ Chelsea Manalo advances to Top 30

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Miss Universe 2024: Philippines’ Chelsea Manalo enters Top 30

Chelsea Manalo of the Philippines will continue to set the stage ablaze as she made it to the first cut of the Miss Universe 2024 competition, announced during the coronation night in Mexico City on Monday, Nov. 17 (Philippine time).

From 125 ladies, the list was narrowed down to 30 semifinalists. Aside from Manalo, here are the delegates whose journey to the crown continues:

France

India

Serbia

Vietnam

Puerto Rico

Nigeria

Canada

Cuba

China

Japan

Egypt

Mexico

Argentina

Thailand

Peru

Macau

Ecuador

Bolivia

Malaysia

Russia

Aruba

Finland

Dominican Republic

Cambodia

Nicaragua

Denmark

Venezuela

Zimbabwe

Chile

This year marked the first time for Egypt and Macau to earn a placement and advance to the semifinals. This is also the first time since 2002 that both United States and Colombia — two of the Miss Universe powerhouses — failed to make it into the semifinals.

At the preliminary competition, Manalo made heads turn with her elaborate “Hiraya” national costume, an ensemble that bears an image of the Black Madonna, the Our Lady of Antipolo, paying homage to the arrival of Christianity and Islam to the Philippines through a galleon trade with Mexico, this year’s pageant hosting country.

The Philippine bet also channeled her inner Disney Princess as she donned a striking, royal blue evening gown with a deep V-neckline during the preliminary. She also sported lilac two-piece swimwear with a golden transparent cape in the swimsuit segment, setting the tone for her performance in the coronation night. 

Manalo is vying for the Philippines fifth Miss Universe crown tonight, hoping to follow previous Filipina winners Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margie Moran in 1973, Pia Wurtzbach in 2015, and Catriona Gray in 2018.

The Philippines was also recognized as the Best National Host Tour Country in the preliminary competition.

For the first time in Miss Universe history, the crown that will be used in the pageant is made in the Philippines, the “Lumière de l’Infini” (Light of Infinity), created by Filipino craftsmen.

Meanwhile, reigning titleholder Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua will crown her successor at the end of the coronation night.