Tovic Salvador

Here's a closer look at Chelsea Manalo's award-winning national costume for Miss Universe

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1733118054354composites.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Details of Chelsea Manalo&#x27;s national costume for Miss Universe. <em>MUPH/Facebook </em></span></span></span>The Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) organization gave the public a closer look at Chelsea Manalo&#x27;s award-winning national costume.</div><p>Designed by Manny Halasan, who also hails from Manalo&#x27;s hometown of Bulacan, &quot;Hiraya&quot; was recently proclaimed Best in National Costume in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant.</p><p>The intricately designed outfit incorporated elements of not just Bulacan, but also other parts of the country as well as Mexico, the host of this year&#x27;s Miss Universe competition.</p><p>&quot;Hiraya means &#x27;the fruit of one&#x27;s hopes, dreams, and aspirations,&#x27;&quot; MUPH noted on its social media pages, saying the national costume shows Manalo&#x27;s &quot;unwavering faith&quot; and perseverance.</p><p>&quot;[It] also serves as a symbol of the complex yet rich relationship between the Philippines and Mexico, and an artistic interpretation of the introduction of both Christianity and Islam to the Philippines,&quot; it added. </p><p>&quot;Salamat, Pilipinas, for voting us to the top.&quot;</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheMissUniversePH%2Fposts%2Fpfbid024E7HvK2DVL7uRyX64qoitMB6Mg5d6gQCS6yUpkxQsrwy6yrsiRtXc1nnhUNFbzrdl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="250" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>This is the second consecutive year that the Philippines emerged victorious in the Miss Universe national competition. Last year, Michelle Dee bagged the award with her <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/11/17/23/designer-shares-fun-facts-about-michelle-dees-natl-costume">airplane-themed ensemble</a>.</p><p>Aside from winning Best in National Costume, Manalo was also proclaimed Miss Universe Asia, along with three other continental queens.</p><p>The 73rd edition of the pageant was won by Victoria Theilvig of Denmark. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2024/11/30/chelsea-manalo-wins-best-national-costume-at-miss-universe-salamat-sa-lahat-ng-nagtiwala-2034">Chelsea Manalo wins Best National Costume at Miss Universe: &#x27;Salamat sa lahat ng nagtiwala&#x27;</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/11/18/-it-was-a-surprise-chelsea-manalo-reacts-to-miss-universe-asia-title-1723">&#x27;It was a surprise!&#x27; Chelsea Manalo reacts to Miss Universe Asia title</a></div>

<p>Aside from winning Best in National Costume, the Philippines' representative was also proclaimed Miss Universe Asia. </p>

Aside from winning Best in National Costume, the Philippines' representative was also proclaimed Miss Universe Asia.