Chelsea Manalo to grace Pinoy fans in a homecoming parade on Dec. 20
Chelsea Manalo, the first-ever Miss Universe Asia, will have a homecoming parade on Friday, Dec. 20,
According to Miss Universe Philippines, the parade will take place at the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City at 4 p.m. Fans are invited to participate, donning their best Miss Universe attire and preparing their loudest cheers and banners to welcome Chelsea home.
Further details, including the parade route, have yet to be announced.
Chelsea returned to the country early in December, bringing a historic delegation to the Philippines as one of the inaugural Continental Queens, whom she called "forever treasure."
"I still feel the same feeling winning MU Philippines, so happy and blessed. And to represent my country and the whole Asia with such title and platform, this is an honor I'll forever treasure," she said during a short Q&A on her Instagram Stories while en route to the Philippines.
She continued, "Winning won't happen once, it is when you are happy and content and when you start to eb an influence to so many. I'm excited for this!"
Plans as first Miss Universe Asia
Meanwhile, Chelsea revealed in an interview with reporters that she plans to tour the world as part of her Miss Universe Asia duties.
"[My plans] for Miss Universe Asia, or for the whole Continental Queen, is to work with the organization, with the charities, with social projects, and at the same time, we will be traveling as well," Manalo said.
"Siguro we will be going around Asia first and then by next year na May, I know I have a Europe tour," she added. "Wala pa kaming full schedule, there's no final details yet. But if ever there is, I know that we will be working really well with the organization."
When asked whether she sensed that the Miss Universe organization was eyeing to name her Miss Universe Asia during the competition, Manalo said she had an inkling that they would.
"I had that feeling. The Philippines is really strong this year kasi we made history eh. Here in the Miss Universe Philippines, I was making history so when I went there, I was working really well with the organization, showing them my authentic side, my personality. They really liked it," Manalo said.
"From the closed-door interview, they really liked my personality. Each and every seat kasi doon, iba iba 'yung judge. I told myself, 'In every seat, I have to show my best personality,'" she continued.
Other Continental Queens include Nigeria's Chidimma Adetshina as Miss Africa and Oceania, Finland's Matilda Wirtavuori as Miss Europe and Middle East, and Peru's Tatiana Calmell as Miss Americas.
In addition, Chelsea also won the Best in National Costume Award for her "Hiraya" ensemble by Filipino designer Manny Halasan.
Chelsea ended her Miss Universe 2024 journey in the Top 30 during the coronation night in Mexico on Sunday, Nov. 17 (PH Time). If she won, she would be the fifth Pinay to win the coveted Miss Universe crown, following the wins of Catriona Gray (2018), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), Margie Moran (1973), and Gloria Diaz (1969)
Meanwhile, Denmark's Victoria Kjaer Theilvig has been crowned the 73rd Miss Universe, making her the first Danish woman to win the prestigious crown.
