'Humble queen': A look back on Chelsea Manalo's Miss Universe Philippines journey

Hailing from Bulacan, the 25-year-old beauty queen bested 52 other aspirants of her batch in the MUPh pageant. She shone the brightest during the local pageant and raised the Philippine flag in the international competition in Mexico. But behind the victories, her journey to the crown wasn’t smooth sailing. 

Before the coronation night, Chelsea faced criticism due to her tourism video entry of Bulacan, which included the controversial airport development site. Social media users pointed out the environmental issues brought about by the development site, such as how over 600 mangrove trees were cut down in 2018 along the coastal area of Barangay Taliptip, where the airport is being built. 

Joining as an independent candidate, the beauty queen faced financial challenges during her preparations for the local pageant, which almost made her quit the competition. 

"I was at the verge of quitting na po," Chelsea said during her guest appearance on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda. "We have to face it Tito Boy, medyo matagal 'yung competition this time. Inabot siya ng four months, so dahil ako po, I came in here as an independent, wala akong resources,” she added, adding how she needed to shoulder her transportation, makeup, and outfits, among others.  

"So dadating talaga sa point na mauubos ka, and I was almost there to quit, but because of the people who supported me, [I didn't]," she continued. 

Despite this, she didn’t let it affect her performance. She was able to bag the Miss Jojo Bragais special award during the preliminaries and was among the final top picks of pageant sites Missosology and Sash Factor. She also made her mark with her “Tampisaw” pasarela.

More than clinching the title, Chelsea carried with her the advocacy of body positivity. In her Her Story video, she recalled being bullied for her skin color and hair.  

“My self-confidence became poor and I started to become indifferent,” she said. Her friends and family, especially her mom, helped her “understand and accept her own individuality.” 

“They made me realize that I am beautiful in my own extraordinary way,” she said. 

Apart from that, she also advocated for youth empowerment of the Indigenous Dumagat people of Norzagaray, Bulacan, where she collaborated with Kids for Kids—a youth-led organization that aims to create a safe space for children, especially those in far areas, and to empower them to be the catalysts of change in their communities.

During the Q&A portion of the finals night, Chelsea was asked how she would use her beauty and confidence to empower others. Her winning answer was: “As a woman of color, I have always faced challenges in my life. I was told that beauty is... has standards, actually. But for me, I have listened to always believe in my mother, to always believe in yourself, uphold the vows that you have,” she said at the time. 

“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 have helped me to become the woman I am. Thank you,” she continued. 

She was hailed the winner, making history as the First Filipino-Black American to win the title.  

‘Down-to-earth, humble’ 

Looking back on her journey as the MUPh 2024 queen, Ryuji Shiomitsu, a stylist and creative director who has worked with Chelsea and has witnessed her journey towards the crown, describes her as a “down-to-earth" and authentic queen. 

“I have had the privilege of working with Chelsea prior to her winning the Miss Universe Philippines crown. Throughout her journey, she remained down-to-earth and real as she can be,” he told PhilSTAR L!fe. 

“My favorite moment of her reign is really the time when she was crowned. It opened doors of possibilities for women who resonate and see themselves in her. That in itself is an achievement that no bigger crown can represent,” he added. 

Ariella Arida, Miss Universe Philippines 2013 titleholder and now the MUPh national director, sees Chelsea as a “humble” beauty queen. 

“Chelsea has a rare kind of beauty that captivates you the moment you meet her. In person, she is mesmerizing—her humble nature perfectly balanced by a quiet, powerful strength,” she shared with L!fe. 

Despite not earning a spot in the semifinals of the international competition, Chelsea made her mark in the pageant scene by becoming the first-ever Miss Universe Asia queen, one of the pageant's continental crowns. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by manalochelsea (@manalochelsea)

“Her recent trip to Thailand holds great significance for her, and I am genuinely pleased, particularly as it coincided with Miss Universe’s first recognition of continental queens,” Ara said. Chelsea, her fellow continental queens, and Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjaer Theilvig recently visited Thailand as part of their Asia tour.  

Now gearing up for the next MUPh queen, Ara has a brief message for Chelsea’s successor.  

“Always stay true to your purpose. You were chosen for a reason. Use your platform to do good, and don’t forget to have fun,” she said, adding, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime journey you’ll cherish forever.” 

For his part, Ryuji stressed that winning the crown is a “powerful testament to your strength and determination.” 

“Brace yourself for a journey of a lifetime. All the endless sleepless nights, hard work, and countless rehearsals have truly paid off. Never forget the journey that brought you here and the people who supported you along the way,” he told L!fe. “The Universe is watching, and you're shining brighter than ever!”