Chelsea Manalo returns home

CHELSEA Manalo, who made history as the first Miss Universe Asia titleholder, is back in the Philippines, a few weeks after representing the country at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico.

The 25-year-old Filipina beauty queen arrived at Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Monday evening. She was welcomed by several supporters and members of the media.

In the photos shared by the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) organization, Manalo donned a casual chic outfit featuring a black leather jacket. Her look is completed with a low bun hairstyle.

Facing the reporters at the airport, Manalo expressed how happy she was to be back in the Philippines and talked about her historic win at the global tilt.

Manalo also won the National Costume Award for her “Hiraya” national costume which channeled her faith in God and the history of Christianity and Islam in the Philippines. It was made by fashion designer Manny Halasan.

“I feel so represented na we’re finally bringing light to the Philippines—’yung culture natin, our hospitality, the Filipino people. It is not just a history for the Filipinos but for the whole country,” she said.

The Bulakenya beauty queen also spoke about her duties as one of the continental queens, explaining that part of her job is to visit different countries with Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig. 

“Meron kaming mga project, specifically here in Asia and then [somewhere] around Europe around May,” she said.

Further details about their projects and the exact dates of their travel are yet to be revealed. Manalo, however, shared that she will be having “small projects” in the country and a homecoming parade.

“We don’t have specific details yet pero I will keep everyone updated,” she said.

“I’m so excited kasi ito ‘yung historical parade na kailangan natin ma-witness lahat,” she added.

A historic win to ‘forever treasure’

Before she arrived in Manila, Manalo shared how she felt being named as the first Miss Universe Asia through a short Q&A on her Instagram stories.

The beauty queen said she felt “happy and blessed” winning the title, stressing that it was the same feelings she had when she emerged victorious in the MUPH pageant in May.

“To represent my country and the whole [of] Asia with such [a] title and platform is an honor I’ll forever treasure,” she wrote.

She continued, “Winning won’t happen once, it is when you are happy and content and when you start to be an influence to so many.”

Aside from Manalo, Finland’s Matilda Wirtavuori, Peru’s Tatiana Calmell, and Nigeria’s Chidimma Adetshina were named the continental queens for Europe and Middle East, Americas, and Africa and Oceania, respectively. 

Manalo may have ended her Miss Universe 2024 journey in the Top 30, but many Filipinos congratulated the Gen Z beauty queen for putting up a good fight in the Miss Universe 2024 pageant.

Pageant Q&A coach JV Canta previously told republicasia that Manalo’s Top 30 finish continued the Philippines’ placement streak in the competition that Michelle Dee brought back in 2023.