PH bet Chelsea Manalo determined to bag 5th Miss Universe crown
Chelsea Manalo is betting on herself to score the Philippines’ fifth win in the forthcoming Miss Universe pageant, and she hopes the Filipino people will consequently also pin their hopes on her as she embarks on the most exciting journey of her life yet.
Six years since last winning an international beauty title may not be that long to many people. But for pageant-crazy Filipinos, it has been an excruciatingly long wait, especially because the most recent win by Catriona Gray in 2018 came just three years after Pia Wurtzbach ended a 42-year drought for the Philippines in 2015.
“I’m betting on myself,” Manalo told Lifestyle in a sit-down interview after her sendoff press conference held at the Hilton Manila in Pasay City on Thursday evening. She is set to fly to Los Angeles in California for last-minute preps, and also to acclimatize with the time difference, before heading to Mexico City, Mexico, for the 73rd Miss Universe pageant.
The Bulakenya model drew gasps when she appeared in a lime-hued silk bustier of criss-cross ruching, with just a couple of crystal-encrusted accents pinned in strategic places to finish the look. Her hair, set in loose waves, was brushed away from her face to show off her doll-like features.
Ready to play
But for many in the room, her calm yet also commanding approach in responding to the questions was what really showed how ready she is for the most important international pageant among Filipinos.
“I’m super thankful to Bingo Plus because they’re there to support me, not just here in the Philippines, but also when I compete for Miss Universe. So if I get that bet from myself, I hope the entire Philippines will also place their bets on me, and also the Filipinos in every part of the universe,” Manalo said.
“I also have that hunger inside of me. I think Bingo Plus players have that tendency to always strive, to win, to never give up until they get what they want. As for me, I always try to bet on myself,” continued the tourism management graduate from the De La Salle-Araneta University.
Manalo said her parents Contessa and Randy instilled in her the value of perseverance, and to always have a positive outlook despite setbacks. “I still move forward. I still pick myself up every now and then, and never stop,” she said.
Empowering, engaging
And she really did not stop.
Five months since her coronation as Miss Universe Philippines in May, Manalo is a different woman now. “The Chelsea back then was so hungry for a dream. And this time, she became more powerful with that dream, because she embraced it,” she declared.
“She has that capacity to be more engaging with a lot of people, because now she has that platform. So I think this will be my main takeaway when I go to Miss Universe—be more empowering, be more engaging,” she continued.
At her press conference, she was showered with praises, well wishes that encouraged her to claim victory in the Miss Universe pageant. Manalo said she had just found out how the people who matter to her really perceive her. And this newfound realization about herself has boosted her confidence. “This is what I’m always looking forward to, to have that positive energy,” she said.
Manalo will be competing in the biggest Miss Universe pageant to date, with a haul of more than 100 delegates who will all try to inherit the title currently held by Sheynnis Palacios, the first Nicaraguan woman to earn the crown.
The 73rd Miss Universe coronation night will be held at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City on Nov. 16 (Nov. 17 in Manila). Manalo will try to become the fifth Filipino woman to win the title, after Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Wurtzbach, and Gray.
