Chelsea Manalo thanks supporters after historic MUPH win: 'I shone brightest because of your love'
Chelsea Manalo couldn't be more grateful to her supporters after her historic feat of becoming the first Filipino-Black American Miss Universe Philippines titleholder.
On her Instagram, the beauty queen from Bulacan shared a picture of herself looking majestic and ethereal as she donned a white gown embellished with gems and an ostrich feather cape.
"I once thought that a fallen star can never be reborn. For years it kept itself absorbed in the dark void. But it once again found its light," Manalo began her message. "I was that star and last night I shone brightest because of all the love and support I received."
She then expressed her appreciation to her parents, who she said served as her "pillar of strength and inspiration."
"I never stumbled as I envisioned myself walking with you. I was calm because I imagined you were holding my hands," she wrote.
"Every word I spoke came from the genuine heart you both nurtured. Every step I made on the stage, led us to achieving the crown we all dreamed of. You, both, deserve my eternal gratitude," she added.
Her mother Contessa previously revealed to GMA’s Unang Balita that her daughter was bullied in the past that it was she and her husband who stood by her throughout her journey, saying, "Noong bata po siya, nabu-bully siya and ako ‘yung nage-encourage sa kanya na, ‘anak, maganda ka.’ [Kaya] anak, deserve mo [ang pagkapanalo mo]. Ito na ang pangarap mo."
Manalo also thanked her Bulacan team and regarded them as her "heroes."
"The challenges I was confronted with [were] overcome by your magic, kindness, and generosity. You never made me feel I was alone. I was empowered because I knew you were all by my side," she highlighted.
The 24-year-old model also gave a shoutout to her fellow aspirants at the recently concluded pageant, sharing that spending the past months with them has allowed her to find a "home away from home."
"You treated me like family. I learned many lessons from you that I would carry throughout my journey," Manalo wrote.
She continued, "To those who supported me, it was beautiful to know you were all cheering Bulacan even if I didn’t know all of you. Your voices echoed in my head, reminding [me] that I should believe in myself because there were people believing in me."
Manalo ended her heartfelt message by promising to do her best to win the crown on the global stage of the 73rd Miss Universe pageant that will be held in Mexico.
"Sa’yo mahal kong Pilpinas, gagawin ko ang lahat para iuwi ang pang-limang korona. Hindi kita bibiguin. Ilalaban natin ito. Maraming Salamat po," she underscored.
Manalo bested 52 other aspirants to succeed the reign of Michelle Dee, who emerged victorious in last year's competition.
After her, Cainta's Stacey Daniella Gabriel was named first runner-up. Quezon province's Maria Ahtisa Manalo is second runner-up, Baguio's Justine Tarah Marie Valencia is third runner-up, and Taguig's Christi Lynn McGarry is fourth runner-up.
The Miss Supranational Philippines crown went to Justine Tarah Marie Valencia while Pampanga's Cyrille Payumo was given the Miss Charm Philippines title. Iloilo's Alexie Brooks was hailed Miss Eco International Philippines while the Miss Cosmo Philippines crown went to Maria Ahtisa Manalo.