Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo just made some history of her own in the 73rd edition of Miss Universe. In a new addition to the pageant's rules, she was hailed as the first ever Miss Universe Asia, one of the four Continental Queens picked from this year’s glowing list of 125 contestants.
The announcement was made after the coronation night on November 17, which saw Miss Denmark Victoria Theilvig reign supreme as the new Miss Universe. Following her press conference, Miss Universe franchise owner Anne Jakrajutatip and a few of the pageant’s other executives declared the new titles given to Chelsea and three other beauty queens.
What does it mean to be a Miss Universe Continental Queen
The hailed queens are expected to represent their respective continents in official Miss Universe engagements alongside Victoria. Joining Chelsea are Nigeria’s bet Chidimma Adetshina for Africa & Oceania, Finland’s Matilda Wirtavuori for Europe & Middle East, and Peru’s Tatiana Calmell for the Americas.
As ambassadors, the four titleholders will each get to travel around their individual continents while performing their duties as spokespersons for regional issues. In Asia, this includes women’s empowerment, youth development, and environmental sustainability. Chelsea will also be partaking in cultural exchanges and outreach programs around her continent to strengthen ties between countries.
In a video posted on social media, Chelsea proudly acknowledged the achievement, stating, “Hello, maraming salamat. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! We are making history as Miss Universe Asia.”
During her Miss Universe journey, Chelsea's personal advocacies included education for indigenous youth. In the competition's Voice for Change segment, she also spoke up about caring for the families and children of Filipino migrant workers.
"I made it my mission to show these kids that the realities of their family life, however challenging, should never hinder them from realizing their fullest potential," said Chelsea. "When we look out for one another, we help the youth feel appreciated and understood, transforming their situations into collective experiences. Instead of isolating challenges, we have the power to help, mold, and shape the youth."
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