MISS Universe fever is on! And in a few days, a new queen will be hailed and as a historic feat, she will don a crown made by Filipino craftsmen.
On Thursday, the Miss Universe Organization unveiled the first-ever Filipino-made crown, featuring the Philippines’ national gem—the South Sea pearls.
The crown, made by luxury brand Jewelmer, is called “Lumiere de L’Infini” or “The Light of Infinity.”
The centerpiece of the highly coveted crown is a rare golden South Sea pearl surrounded by diamond-encrusted rays, depicting the sun. “The Light of Infinity” crown is adorned with 23 golden South Sea pearls sourced from Palawan, Philippines.
“This precious gem embodies the brilliance of our co-existence with Mother Nature. As long as there is a pearl, there is life shining through every moment,” Jewelmer said in an Instagram post.
The Filipino-crafted crown will be bestowed to the new Miss Universe titleholder on November 16 (November 17 in Manila) in Mexico City.
The Philippines will be represented by its first Filipino-Black American Miss Universe Philippines titleholder, Chelsea Manalo. The 25-year-old Bulakenya beauty queen is vying for the country’s fifth Miss Universe crown and to succeed Nicaragua’s Sheynnis Palacios.
Jewelmer is the same jewelry company that crafted the “La Mer en Majestè” crown, also adorned with golden South Sea pearls, which has been used for the Miss Universe Philippines competition since 2022.
Missosology’s initial hot picks
Meanwhile, global pageant observer Missosology placed Manalo in the Top 10 of its initial hot picks for the Miss Universe 2024 pageant.
Occupying the top spot is Chile’s Emilia Dides, whom the pageant-related community forum believed could “end the drought” of her country at Miss Universe.
“She’s well-liked by everybody in Mexico. Her stunning face seethes easily to any beauty-watcher,” it said.
Peru’s Tatiana Calmell came second, followed by Dominican Republic’s Celinee Santos, Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig, and Zimbabwe’s Sakhile Dube.
The preliminary and the national costume competitions will be held on November 14 (November 15 in Manila).
