Chelsea Manalo
MARAMING nagulat sa pagkapanalo ni Chelsea Manalo ng Bulacan sa naganap na grand coronation night ng Miss Universe Philippines 2024 kagabi sa Mall of Asia Arena.
Maituturing na dark horse si Chelsea sa naturang national pageant dahil hindi naging matunog ang pangalan niya sa simula ng labanan, kumpara sa mga fan favorites na sina Stacey Gabriel, Ahtisa Manalo at Christi McGarry.
Unang sumabak sa pageant si Chelsea noong 2017 sa pamamagitan ng Miss World Philippines kung saan umabot siya sa Top 15.
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Taong 2021 naman ng mag-join ang Filipino-American beauty queen sa Miss Universe Philippines kung saan nanalo si Beatrice Luigi Gomez ng Cebu City.
May mga kumuwestiyon at nagreklamo sa pagkapanalo ni Chelsea pero mas marami pa rin ang nagsabing deserving ang dalaga sa titulo at korona dahil bukod sa galing niya sa pagrampa ay winner din ang sagot niya sa Q&A segment.
Waging First runner-up si Miss Cainta Stacey Gabriel, Second runner-up si Miss Quezon Province Ahtisa Manalo, Third runner-up ang bet ng Baguio na si Tarah Mae Valencia, at Fourth runner-up si Miss Taguig Christi McGarry.
Si Chelsea ang lalaban sa gaganaping Miss Universe 2024 sa Mexico sa darating na November.
Narito naman ang winning answer ni Chelsea sa final Q&A portion ng pageant kung saan tinanong siya ng, “You are beautiful and confident. How have you used these qualities to empower others?”
“As a woman of color, I’ve always faced challenges in my life.
“I was told that beauty has matter actually. But for me, I have listened to always believe in my mother, to always believe in yourself, uphold the vows that you have in yourself.
“Because of these, I am already influencing a lot of women who are facing me right now as a transformational woman.
“I have here 52 other delegates with me who helped me to become the woman I am today,” ang buong sagot ng bagong hirang na Miss Universe Philippines 2024.
Ito naman ang naging tugon ni Chelsea sa tanong during the announcement of Top 10 finalists, “I want to know what are you looking forward to? You had the choice: not being able to wear heels or getting your favorite foods delivered to you anytime any day wherever you are in the world.”
“So one of the things that I also want to share here is that I love to eat ice cream. It’s one of my comfort foods.
“So behind the stage, whenever I get to eat ice cream, while wearing my heels, (are) both things that I actually like to share with you guys. So it’s both a win for me,” aniya pa.