The stage is set for the highly anticipated Miss Universe 2024 pageant as over 125 beautiful and confident women vie for the crown to succeed Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios on Nov. 16, Saturday (Nov. 17 in Manila) in Mexico.
Among these women are four beauty queens with Filipino roots, including Chelsea Manalo, a 25-year-old stunner from Bulacan and the first Filipino-Black American to be crowned Miss Universe Philippines in May.
Manalo this week met with her fellow half-Filipina candidates—Victoria Velasquez Vincent of New Zealand, Christine Dela Cruz Chalk of Great Britain, and Shereen Ahmed of Bahrain.
Both Victoria and Christine competed in Miss Universe Philippines 2023 where Chelsea won the national title.
Victoria previously represented the municipality of Bacoor, where she ended her journey as one of the Top 10 candidates. She then competed in Miss Universe New Zealand 2024 after Filipina-Kiwi Franki Russell’s reign as its representative was cut short.
On the other hand, Christine, whose mother is a Filipina, landed in the Top 20 during the national pageant. After her stint in the country, Christine took another chance to compete in Miss Universe Great Britain where she bested 42 other candidates.
Meanwhile, half-Filipina and half-Bahraini Shereen Ahmed was named Miss Universe Bahrain 2024 early last month. Her Filipino roots come from her mother who is a Caviteña.
In a recent interview, Manalo said she remains calm as the pageant draws near.
“Now it gets a little bit more real, now that I see these people who will be in Mexico to support me,” she said.
Manalo is aiming to become the country’s fifth Miss Universe titleholder after Catriona Gray (2018), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), Margie Moran (1973), and Gloria Diaz (1969).
