Chelsea Manalo’s mother says beauty queen was bullied for her skin color
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Chelsea Manalo. Image: Instagram/@themissuniverseph
Chelsea Manalo’s mother Contessa was overwhelmed with emotion after the Bulacan native was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2024, saying being a beauty queen had always been her daughter’s dream.
A tearful Contessa said she’s “so happy” to see Manalo win the coveted title in a report by GMA’s Unang Balita broadcast on Thursday, May 23.
“Sobrang saya. Naiiyak ako sa sobrang saya. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon. Natupad ang pangarap ng anak ko,” Contessa said. (I’m so happy. I feel like crying out of happiness. I’m thankful to the Lord. My daughter’s dream came true.)
In a separate interview with ABS-CBN News, Contessa recalled how she would always encourage Chelsea to go for her dreams, and even assured her that she was beautiful despite being “bullied for her skin color” when she was young.
“Matagal na ‘tong pangarap ng anak ko. Sinabi ko sa anak ko na [kung] ito ang pangarap niya, susuportahan namin siya,” she said. “Noong bata po siya, nabu-bully siya and ako ‘yung nage-encourage sa kanya na, ‘anak, maganda ka.’ [Kaya] anak, deserve mo [ang pagkapanalo mo]. Ito na ang pangarap mo.”
(This has been a dream of my daughter for a long time. I told her that if this was her dream, we would support her. When she was young, she was bullied. I encouraged her, saying, “My daughter, you’re beautiful.” This is why my daughter, you deserve your win. Your dream finally came true.)
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Chelsea and her parents’ dream
Manalo, on the other hand, told Unang Balita she instantly thought of her parents when she was announced as the winner of the coveted title.
“When they announced my province, I instantly thought about my parents. I know that this was not just my dream, but also their dream for me to be Miss Universe Philippines,” she said.
The reigning titleholder said she used to envision herself as a beauty queen whenever she would look in a mirror.
“I always have this dream of looking at myself in the mirror and wearing that sash and that crown,” she said.
Manalo bested 52 other aspirants for the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 title, including pageant heavyweights Ahtisa Manalo, Stacey Gabriel, Christi McGarry, Victoria Velasquez Vincent, Kris Tiffany Janson, and early favorite Alexie Brooks.
Before the national tilt, she competed at the Miss World Philippines 2017 tilt where she ended at the Top 15.
She will represent the Philippines at the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in Mexico in hopes of bagging the country’s fifth crown.
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