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It's been over 24 hours since Chelsea Manalo was named Miss Universe Philippines 2024 and the African American-Filipina beauty still can't believe she has the crown on her head.

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mu chelsea 05242024

ABS-CBN News

Dyan Castillejo

<p>MANILA --  It&#x27;s been over 24 hours since Chelsea Manalo was named Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) 2024 and the African American-Filipina beauty still can&#x27;t believe she has the crown on her head. </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7T9qbNyzIc/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=675&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fnews-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A4318529%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>She shared the balancing act she had to do for a few seconds with the crown but it was all good in the end.</p><p>&quot;It was just a couple of seconds balancing it but it’s already on I&#x27;ve made it to the meme world (laughs). It’s funny. Me and Michelle (Dee) laughed at it. It was just a matter of time but Michelle fixed it,&quot; Manalo said in her calm genuine tone.</p><p>Manalo revealed she was pretty much on her own during her MUPH journey with her mother Contessa Manalo and stepfather  Randy Angeles as her personal assistants every step of the way. There were kind supportive friends as well from Bulacan. She had no pasarela trainer and her much-talked-about slow-mo move onstage was all her own. She has no name for it and is open to public suggestions.</p><p>&quot;I had some trainers but for that walk, no one did. I had to come up with my own. It was also just a minute before I went out onstage because behind the scenes there were girls who would do their training walk before they go out, they wanted to make it look perfect. Then sabi ko, &#x27;I wanna also make something unique.&#x27; It was only just a minute. Sabi ko, I wanna make something unique And then it stuck to my head: the national costume. That was the only time din kasi na naisip ko walk ko. I tried to make it my signature because everyone liked it, my national costume walk so why not bring it to the stage for MUPH coronation night?&quot; she said. </p><p>She had no stylist and just relied on Bulaceno designer friends like Manny Halasan and others to provide her with the outfits needed for all the activities. Sometimes she would order clothes online. </p><p>&quot;Wala akong stylist. It was also Kuya Manny. May mga damit din siya na he could try to make for me, &#x27;yun lang &#x27;yung ginagamit ko. There are also Bulacan designers who were there to support me kasi the eagerness for me to join eh. Sabi nila we’re gonna support you no matter what happens. So I also wanna commend Sir Cocoy Lizaso for lending some dresses to me. There are days na nahihirapan ka na maghanap ng dress. It also led to a time na &#x27;yung mga online selling, bumibili na rin ako. It was just really my mom and dad, my designer, Bulacan makeup artist team, Kuya Harold... It’s all just me. It’s hard honestly,&quot; she said.</p><p>Chelsea is forever grateful to her mom and stepdad who always reminded her to always believe and stay authentic. Her parents have been her source of strength ever since she was a kid when she would be bullied in school because of her color and hair.</p><div><br/></div><p>READ: <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/5/23/miss-universe-philippines-2024-chelsea-manalo-offers-win-to-parents-1052" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo offers win to parents</a></p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;I wanted to always play with my classmates but they would say hurtful things to me and I would go home crying. And my mom and dad would say, &#x27;It&#x27;s okay, you are beautiful, don&#x27;t believe what they are saying. And if you want to play with them continue to do so,&#x27;&quot; she recalled.</p><p>This kind of assurance shaped her confidence that has led to her determination to pursue her goals in life. At age 14, she started modelling to help the family finances. She graduated with a degree in Tourism at De La Salle Araneta University.  </p><p>&quot;I started saving so I could help my parents and pay for my college. &#x27;Pag kulang they would always support but I saved up for that,&quot; she said.</p><p>Manalo was able to spend time with her biological father during the two years she lived with her lola in Las Vegas from age 10 to 12.</p><p>&quot;We spent time together, we would eat and talk. So yes I met my dad at that time,&quot; she explained. &quot;When I came back to Manila, my stepdad really took care of me and he and my mom have been supporting me all the way especially when I decided I wanted to join Miss Universe Philippines this year.&quot; </p><p>Her dream to become Miss Universe started as a child.</p><p>&quot;When I was about 5, 6 years old, I would watch this pageant and see girls with crowns. I thought they were princesses. So that&#x27;s when I started dreaming about being in these pageants and I would practice my walk,&quot; she recalled. </p><p>Manalo is so thankful to have the MUPH team around her and get the help she needs for stylists, makeup, and prepping her looks and she is eager to start training for the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico in November. </p><p>In the meantime, she is already missing her 52 other candidates who she became extremely close to.</p><p>&quot;I miss all the activities of the last four months, being busy and seeing them every day. I would always tell each one I love you. Each one is qualified to win the crown.  I will do my very best to represent the Philippines and bring home the fifth crown,&quot; Manalo said.</p><div><br/></div><p>RELATED NEWS: <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/5/22/bulacan-s-chelsea-manalo-to-represent-ph-at-miss-universe-2024-2113" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bulacan&#x27;s Chelsea Manalo to represent PH at Miss Universe 2024</a></p><div><br/></div>

<p>It's been over 24 hours since Chelsea Manalo was named Miss Universe Philippines 2024 and the African American-Filipina beauty still can't believe she has the crown on her head.</p>

Chelsea Manalo humble and radiant after winning MUPH 2024 crown

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Chelsea Manalo humble and radiant after winning MUPH 2024 crown

ABS-CBN News,

Dyan Castillejo

Published May 24, 2024 04:52 PM PHT

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