CHELSEA Anne Manalo, a 25-year-old model of African-American descent representing Bulacan, was crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2024 in a star-studded finals show at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay last Wednesday night.
Manalo topped the field of 53 delegates representing various provinces throughout the Philippines as well as Filipino communities abroad.
Chelsea was crowned by Miss Universe 2023 top 10 finalist Michelle Dee and will be the country’s official delegate to the 73rd Miss Universe in Mexico later this year.
When asked during the final question round “You are beautiful and confident. How would you use these qualities to empower others?” Manalo replied: “As a woman of color, I’ve always faced challenges in my life. I was told that beauty has a standard, actually. But for me, I have listened to 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.”
Manalo is the first woman of African American descent to hold the title of Miss Universe Philippines. She was born in Meycauayan City, Bulacan to an African American father and Filipino mother who got divorced when she was two years old. She attended primary school in the United States and finished college in the Philippines.
Her mother remarried and was treated by her stepdad as his own. Her biological father passed away two years ago.
For the record, Chelsea is the third Bulakenya to compete in the history of Miss Universe, the other two being Teresita Torralba Sanchez from Plaridel, who competed in the very first Miss Universe in Long Beach, California in 1952; and Maricar Manalaysay Balagtas also from Plaridel, who competed in Quito, Ecuador in 2004.
The runners-up to Manalo, in order, are: Cainta’s Stacey Gabriel, first; Quezon Province’s Ma. Ahtisa Manalo, second; Baguio’s Tarah Valencia, 3rd; and Taguig’s Christi Lynn McGarry, fourth.
In appointment ceremonies after the show, Ahtisa Manalo was bestowed the Miss Cosmo Philippines 2024 title while Valencia was crowned Miss Supranational Philippines 2025. Top 10 finalists Cyrille Payumo of Pampanga was crowned Miss Charm Philippines 2025, and Alexie Brooks of Iloilo City was named Miss Eco Philippines 2025.
Alden Richards hosted the 5-hour show along with Filipino-American Miss Universe (2022) R’Bonney Gabriel and Emmy Award-winning producer and host Jeannie Mai, while Tim Yap and Gabbi Garcia were backstage commentators.
