Chelsea Manalo ends 73rd Miss Universe journey at Top 30

Metro Manila, Philippines — Philippine bet Chelsea Manalo finished her Miss Universe journey in the Top 30 during the 73rd edition of the international pageant held in Mexico on Sunday morning, Nov. 17 (Philippine time).

Manalo had the chance to make her signature “tampisaw walk” as she showcased her swimwear to the Arena CDMX crowd in Mexico City.

But the list had a huge cut to Top 12, advancing to the evening gown competition.

It was then shaved to Top 5, with Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark emerging as the winner of the Miss Universe 2024 title.

“It has always been my dream since I was a little girl. I was that girl who would look into the mirror pretending to shout out the ‘Philippines!’ on the Miss Universe stage,” Manalo said in a video played during the Top 30 announcement.

Designer Manny Halasan crafted her outfits for the competition.

During the preliminaries, the 25-year-old beauty queen walked the runways with the religion-inspired national costume “Hiraya” and a blue evening gown.

For her supposed final look, Manalo donned a mint-green gown and a feathered cape.

Representing Bulacan, Manalo won the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 title last May.

The past Filipina Miss Universe titleholders were Gloria Diaz (1969), Margarita Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018).