THREE months from now, the universe will witness more than a hundred delegates competing in the international beauty pageant stage to be the next Miss Universe.
In a 41-second clip on Facebook, the Miss Universe Organization (MOU) revealed that the coronation night for the 73rd Miss Universe competition will be held on November 16.
The pageant will begin with the preliminary and national costume show on November 14. These programs and the finals night will be held at the Arena CDMX in Mexico.
The MOU thrilled pageant fans and enthusiasts, promising that the highly anticipated beauty competition will be “the biggest event in the history of Miss Universe.”
This year’s edition will showcase 130 beauty queens from different countries, who will compete to be the successor of 24-year-old mental health advocate and Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios.
Palacios claimed Nicaragua’s first win in the Miss Universe pageant last year in El Salvador.
The organization also teased netizens with “a new show format,” among the other things they should anticipate from the pageant.
Meanwhile, Facebook users expressed their excitement for the beauty competition, with some rooting for the 24-year-old Filipina beauty queen Chelsea Manalo.
Pinay delegates
Manalo, an indigenous people’s rights and education advocate, will represent the Philippines in the upcoming Miss Universe competition.
She was crowned Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) 2024 in May, making history as the first Black Filipina titleholder. She emerged victorious among 52 other delegates and succeeded Michelle Dee, who finished in the Top 10 during the Miss Universe 2023 pageant.
But Manalo will not be the only Filipina aiming for the coveted Miss Universe 2024 crown.
Filipina-British beauty queen Christina Dela Cruz Chalk, 31, will also join the competition to represent Great Britain.
Before clinching the Miss Universe Great Britain 2024 title, Chalk participated in the MUPH 2024 pageant, where she finished in the Top 20.
Three Filipina beauty queens would have competed in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant, but former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate Franki Russell could no longer join the competition following the cancellation of Miss Universe New Zealand’s franchise.
This was the result of the local franchisee’s “non-compliance with a specific order from the Miss Universe Organization,” said House of Yugen’s managing director Ian Borromeo.
Following this, the Filipina-Kiwi beauty queen unpinned her Instagram post about her Miss Universe New Zealand journey.
A ‘dark horse’
Manalo’s triumph in the MUPH 2024 pageant came as a surprise for some pageant fans, who labeled her as a “dark horse” or an unexpected winner in the competition.
But the Bulakenya beauty queen has a powerful response to this label.
On Instagram, Manalo shared several snaps from her photo shoot where she was accompanied by a black horse while serving fierce looks in a white and cream crocheted dress.
One of the photos showed Manalo standing on top of the horse.
“Labels may say ‘dark horse,’ but my victory will be defined by my authenticity and determination,” said Manalo. “Victory is mine for the taking.”
Manalo will aim for the Philippines’ fifth crown in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant.
