‘Mars’ Ara Arida pans Miss Universe 2024 production in Mexico

Miss Universe Asia 2024 Chelsea Manalo (right) and Miss Universe 2013 3rd runner-up Ara Arida/ARMIN P. ADINA

Beauty queen-turned-host and actress Ara Arida did not mince words when she expressed her thoughts about the recently concluded staging of the 2024 Miss Universe final competition show, saying the delegates deserved more.

The 2013 Miss Universe third runner-up, endearingly called “Mars Ara” by many pageant fans, shared this observation when she delivered her message for newly proclaimed Miss Universe Asia Chelsea Manalo at the latter’s homecoming press conference held at Empire Studio at the Estancia Mall in Pasig City on Dec. 14.

“Actually, we’re so happy with your performance; I’m just not happy with the stage,” Arida said with a hearty laugh, also addressing the journalists and online content creators who attended the event. 

“I know you deserve a better production because I know how you really performed, and I want to see all your pasarela (pageant walk). Nakakapanghinayang (it was such a waste), but I know that you did so well,” she continued.

Netizens also expressed their frustration at what they claimed was the worst edition of the Miss Universe pageant, starting with the very limited outdoor activities for the delegates, who just mostly stayed in their hotel.

The last-minute addition of the evening gown segment to the preliminary competition show was also panned because it gave the ladies only a few seconds each, just standing in their dresses for their dedicated air time. Previous editions had the ladies parading individually on stage.

The final competition show was also received poorly by many pageant followers, who did not hesitate to share their disdain on social media. This was the first staging of the pageant with Mexican entity Legacy Holdings as a co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, equally sharing the company with JKN Global Group of Thailand. 

Arida said she knows how Manalo feels now after competing in the most important international pageant for Filipinos. “After all the training, all the hard work, all the pressure, the good and the bad of the experience, finally you can breathe better now,” she said.

“I’m so proud of what you have achieved, our first-ever Miss Universe Asia. I know you deserve it,” continued Arida, who was one of the judges in the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant in May, where Manalo won her national title that brought her to Mexico.

Manalo also recalled Arida’s advice to her before embarking on her international pageant journey. “She told me to embrace every moment that you would feel when you’re in Miss Universe. So when you get there, you will see the other candidates; there are so many of them, all so beautiful. You kind of feel, ‘Oh my God, it’s really nerve-wracking,’ and you feel the competition,” she shared.

“But in the later part of the competition you embrace what’s going on, that you feel your power, where you’re coming from. So being there, it’s not really the other girls that are your competition, but yourself,” she added.

Manalo said she decided to have fun. “Mexico was a dream place for me to visit, so it’s a dream for me to be there. To represent our country has been such an honor at the same time,” she said.

Fans of the Filipino queen will have the chance to see her in person at her homecoming and victory parade scheduled on Friday afternoon, Dec. 20, at the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City.

Manalo will also take part in a “Parade Walk” at the TLC Park, Lower Bicutan, in Taguig City on Saturday evening, Dec. 21.