Miss Universe Asia 2024 Chelsea Manalo/ARMIN P. ADINA
Chelsea Manalo’s fans will get the chance to see the first-ever Miss Universe Asia titleholder in the flesh in not just one but two public events over the weekend.
More than a month since receiving her title at the culmination of the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico, Manalo will have a homecoming parade at the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City this afternoon, Dec. 20.
It has been more than a week since “La Bulakenya” came back home from a brief stay in Los Angeles, California, in the United States after her competition in Mexico City in November.
The parade will start at 4 p.m. and will see the Filipino beauty queen paraded around the main mall building, traversing both Ocean Drive and Pacific Drive, and also weaving through the pathways between the main mall and the two parking lot buildings.
Her predecessor Michelle Marquez Dee had a similar motorcade more than a month since finishing in the Top 10 of the 72nd Miss Universe pageant last year, where she also topped the online popularity poll and voting for national costume, and became one of the three “gold finalists” for the “Voice for Change” initiative.
Manalo also topped the online poll for Best in National Costume in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant. She also finished in the Top 30 in a field of 125 delegates, the biggest haul in the global tilt’s history.
After her Pasay motorcade, Manalo will have another encounter with the public through a “Parade Walk” at the “Lights of Christmas” park at the TLC Park on Lakeshore Highway in Lower Bicutan, Taguig City. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 21, and will start at 6 p.m.
On Wednesday, Dec. 18, Manalo had already faced the public when she welcomed shoppers at the Christmas Outlet Sale of Jojo Bragais Shoes in Quezon City. The beauty queen is giving away a pair of her tribute shoe design to one lucky supporter who will be chosen online. The winner will also be a guest at an exclusive dinner on Dec. 21.