Miss Universe Philippines 2025 ‘underdogs’ draw inspiration from Chelsea Manalo
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Reigning Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo (center) and 2025 candidates (clockwise from top, left) Alessandra Eugenio, Francchezca Pacheco, Sasha Lacuna and Rendelle Ann Caraig/ARMIN P. ADINA
This year’s edition of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant is a hotly contested competition with a slew of seasoned queens with international experience and titles. But the lesser-known aspirants are drawing inspiration from the Cinderella story of reigning queen Chelsea Manalo.
The reigning queen was technically not a newbie when she competed last year, having participated in the Miss World Philippines pageant seven years prior, finishing as a semifinalist. But other contenders had greater accomplishments — international runners-up Ahtisa Manalo and Christi McGarry and global winners Alexandra Rosales and Cyrille Payumo
Many in the 2025 competition see Manalo’s victory as proof that the Miss Universe Philippines pageant is still anybody’s game, and even national pageant rookies get a chance to clinch the crown.
Rendelle Anne Caraig from Los Baños, Laguna, had already taken part in the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, but went home empty-handed. And she acknowledges that she is the “dark horse” among the Laguna triumvirate that includes international model Eloisa Jauod and 2023 Miss Earth-Air Yllana Aduana.
“I am inspired (by Manalo’s victory). I believe that anything is possible. It’s just a matter of manifestation and believing in oneself,” Caraig told INQUIRER.net in an interview.
Pasig City’s Alessandra Eugenio also holds the same belief. “Whether you are a veteran or a newbie, you have a chance as long as you give your 101 percent and you work on what you want to achieve in life,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Sasha Lacuna from Tarlac, who is joining her first-ever national pageant after winning the 2024 Bb. Kanlahi crown in her province, saw Manalo take home the Miss Universe Philippines crown live.
“Chelsea was really shining like a really dim star at first. But she continued to grow and grow during the coronation night. So I think the fact that that happened could really say that this pageant could be super unpredictable. So it could be in one spectrum, and then completely opposite on the other,” Lacuna said.
Manalo’s provincial successor Franchezca Pacheco carries an even greater pressure. Aside from trying to win over more popular bets, she is also targeting a second consecutive win for Bulacan.
“I take it as ‘good pressure’ because Bulacan has been more supportive when it comes to pageantry. And I know that every Bulakenya is resilient, and I know I’m bringing this in the competition,” Pacheco said.
“What I learned from [Manalo’s] journey is to always be a queen all the time, on and off the camera. Chelsea is very regal, very kind at heart. Because a true queen will always have a great heart,” she added.
The four ladies are among the 66 aspirants in the competition, who also include Aduana, 2018 Miss International runner-up Ahtisa Manalo, 2017 Reina Hispanoamericana Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez, 2019 Reina Hispanoamericana Quinta Finalista (fifth runner-up) Katrina Llegado, 2019 Miss Asia Pacific International second runner-up Jessica Cianchino, 2020 Top Model of the World semifinalist Tyra Goldman, and 2017 Miss Supranational finalist Chanel Olive Thomas.
The 2025 Miss Universe Philippines coronation show will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on May 2. The winner will be sent to the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand in November.
