Chelsea Manalo pays tribute to our country's deep-rooted relationship with religion and spirituality with her national costume for Miss Universe 2024. Designed by her fellow Bulakenyo Manny Halasan, the beauty queen's ensemble stunned audiences watching live from Mexico and around the world.
Chelsea Manalo's Miss Universe 2024 National Costume by Manny Halasan
Gilded from head to toe, Chelsea's national costume was "a symbolism of the far and profound history and relationship between the Philippines and Mexico." The look combined references to the Filipino people's devotion to Islam and Christian religions. The team behind the costume shares that it serves as "a testament that religions can live peacefully and harmoniously, venerating and respecting each other's practices and beliefs together as one nation."
Incorporated throughout the look are elements found in both Islam and Christian traditions. Traditional Inaul fabric from Sultan Kudarat and other Mindanaoan ornaments such as the Tongkaling were utilized to symbolize the Islam communities spread throughout the country.
Chelsea also harked back to her hometown of Bulacan using Puni, decorative elements that make use of coconut fronds. "Together, these materials are intertwined and cohesively combined into the story of this national costume," her post reads.
A key element in the costume is the bejeweled headpiece fashioned after a galleon. The headdress referenced the period of trade and exploration from Spain and Mexico which "led to the Christianization of most parts of our country."
With the spread of Christianity in the country came our countrymen's devotion to religious figures such as the Our Lady of Good Voyage, or the Our Lady of Antipolo. Her image is intricately painted at the back of Chelsea's dress, aiming to represent how she continues to "give us faith to help protect and guide us as we voyage through our lives."
In its entirety, the national costume is named "Hiraya," which is "a vision of what [we] will become."
"It is a vision of what and how things are in the future. Believing in [what was] once a dream and being able to touch and live it into reality," Chelsea's post reads. "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."
Absolutely gorgeous, Chelsea! Kudos to you and your team!
Catch Chelsea in action at the 75th Miss Universe Coronation Night happening this November 17 (Philippine time) on the Miss Universe YouTube channel.
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