The Philippines’ bet Chelsea Manalo won Best in National Costume at the 73rd edition of Miss Universe. The award was announced two weeks after the pageant’s grand coronation night in Mexico City.
Chelsea beat out 124 other contestants in a online poll for the national costume segment on social media. She was followed by second placer Emilia Dides of Chile and third placer Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen of Vietnam. “Proudly representing their homeland! The National Costume is a way for contestants to share their country’s story, traditions, and values with the world,” shared the pageant’s official social media page.
Chelsea expressed her gratitude in the post’s comments section, thanking the Bulakenyo designer behind her winning piece, Manny Halasan, and all those who voted for her. Dubbed the “Hiraya,” the gold and blue number symbolizes the “profound history and relationship between the Philippines and Mexico.” It also depicts elements seen in both Islam and Christian traditions. Found in her costume are the traditional Inaul fabric from Sultan Kudarat, Tongkaling ornaments from Mindanao, and a gilded galleon-inspired headpiece, a representation of the spread of Christianity in the country.
"No matter what religion we believe in, if we pray for something, devote and give our faith, and work for it, in God’s perfect time, everything is possible. Despite all the hardships, chaos, roadblocks, and redirection that we go through, [we] believe that there is hope and Divine guidance from a Higher Being,” expressed Chelsea in social media post.
Apart from the National Costume award, the Filipina beauty queen was also named Miss Universe Asia, one of the four Continental Queens, as a new thrust in the Miss Universe contest that began with Chelsea’s batch. With the role, she’s expected to travel around Asia and become a spokesperson for its different regional issues.
For more information on Chelsea's "Hiraya" costume, read on here.
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