Chelsea Manalo is making history as the country’s first Filipino Black American delegate to the Miss Universe pageant. CONTRIBUTED

MEXICO CITY – The excitement is palpable as the 73rd Miss Universe pageant approaches, with nearly 130 countries participating in Ciudad de Mexico (CDMX).

This year, Filipinos are at the forefront of the battle for the coveted crown.

Four participants of Filipino descent

1. Philippines Representative Chelsea Manalo is making history as the country’s first Filipino Black-American delegate. She is among the beauty queens vying to succeed reigning Miss Universe Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua.

The pressure is on and expectations are high that Chelsea can take home the Philippines’ fifth Miss U crown.

Chelsea’s unique features and biracial beauty have attracted attention on social media, including praise from former supermodel and TV personality Tyra Banks. In Chelsea’s official headshot for Miss Universe, captioned “Philippines, let’s make it happen,” Banks commented, “Get it, girl!!!!!”

Chelsea are not alone in the competition. Three other half-Pinay contestants will grace the Miss Universe stage: Victoria Velasquez Vincent of New Zealand, Christina Dela Cruz Chalk of Great Britain and Shereen Ahmed of Bahrain.

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2. Victoria Velasquez Vincent is a Filipino Kiwi model and titleholder of the pageant who was crowned Miss Universe New Zealand 2024.

Her mother, Josephine, born and raised in Auckland, is from Bacoor, Cavite. After overcoming a challenging past marked by relationship violence, she changed her name at age 22, dropping her first name, Kim.

Vincent represented East Auckland on the final night at the Dorothy Winstone Center on September 29, where she also won the Best in Swimsuit and People’s Choice awards.

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Victoria Velasquez Vincent / CONTRIBUTED

3. Christina Dela Cruz Chalk is a Filipino-British beauty pageant titleholder who recently earned the title of Miss Universe Great Britain 2024.

After three previous attempts, she finally secured the crown in July. Christina grew up in Dunblane, Scotland, and is the daughter of a Filipino mother and a Scottish father. She has a degree in Pharmacology from the University of Glasgow and started modeling at the age of 15, gaining recognition as Scotland’s New Face at the Scottish Fashion Awards in 2009.

Christina has also modeled for high-profile brands such as Swarovski and Vogue. In 2013, she appeared on the reality TV program Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model.

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Christina Dela Cruz Chalk / CONTRIBUTED

4. Another notable contestant is Shereen Ahmed, a half-Filipino and half-Bahrainian beauty who has been crowned Miss U Bahrain 2024.

Shereen, a 29-year-old TV presenter, took the opportunity to participate after the pageant’s age limit was lifted, eventually securing the title of Miss U Bahrain.

She joins Chelsea as the fourth Filipino contestant to vie for the prestigious crown this year.

Shereen Ahmed / Photo by Armin Adina / RESEARCHER

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A new leadership role for a Filipino skincare mogul

5. In January this year, the Miss Universe Organization welcomed a new vice president: Los Angeles-based Filipino skincare mogul Olivia Quido-Co. The Fil-Am entrepreneur and skincare expert has been named vice president of global partnerships, in addition to her continued role as CEO and president of the Miss Universe Skincare and Spa division.

Quido-Co has been a crucial presence in the Miss U pageant for years, as an official skincare supplier and, most recently, as a judge in the 2023 competition.

Yesterday, she convened national executives and business partners for an impactful town hall meeting, where they explored new opportunities, innovations and collaborations to take the pageant to new heights.

Last week, she spent time with the Miss U candidates, sharing conversations filled with laughter and gratitude.

“I am grateful to have shared the stage with 130 talented delegates at the Beauty Day Masterclass in Mexico. It was an unforgettable day full of elegance, empowerment and inspiration!” she said in a social media post.

Quido-Co arrived in Mexico a week before the final, eager to talk to everyone involved.

“We strive to be more inclusive and welcoming and empower all women from different backgrounds and cultures around the world,” she told Inquirer.net USA.

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Olivia Quido-Co / CONTRIBUTED

Global fashion icon Michael Cinco joins the jury

6. Filipino designer Michael Cinco, a global fashion icon based in Dubai, has been selected as one of the judges for Miss U 2024.

Cinco’s eponymous label, founded in 2003, has achieved international fame and he will now play a crucial role in choosing the next Miss Universe.

“I am truly honored to be part of the Miss Universe 2024 selection committee,” Cinco told Inquirer.net USA. “This opportunity allows me to witness and celebrate the remarkable talents, intelligence and strength of participants from around the world. It’s inspiring to see so many unique stories and perspectives coming together on such a grand platform. It is a privilege to be involved in electing a representative who will use her voice to make an impact globally, and I look forward to seeing each participant shine.”

From his studio in the Dubai Design District, Michael has dressed global icons such as Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Rihanna. In 2016, he became the first Filipino designer to be invited to Paris Fashion Week.

Cinco’s designs have appeared frequently at Miss Universe. He created the dress worn by Miss USA Elle Smith in 2021 and dressed judges Urvashi Rautela and Iris Mittenaere.

His creations were notably worn by Miss U 2020 Andrea Meza when she crowned India’s Harnaaz Sandhu in 2021 and by Pia Wurtzbach during her final walk in 2016. His beautiful dresses also adorned participants from countries such as Canada, Romania, Argentina, Uruguay and the Czech Republic.

Michael Cinco / CONTRIBUTED

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This year’s pageant is co-hosted by former winners R’Bonney Gabriel and Catriona Gray.

7. For the third year in a row, Catriona has been invited as a commentator for Miss Universe. She previously fulfilled this role in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2022, and in El Salvador in 2023. This year she returns to Mexico City.

Gray mentioned in a report that although she was considered for the main hosting position, she feels blessed to be on the sidelines of the event.

Catriona Gray / CONTRIBUTED

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8. Meanwhile, Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel is excited to make her debut as the host of the preliminary round.

Both Catriona, originally from Australia, and R’Bonney, from Texas, are biracial and now live in the Philippines, where they are flourishing in their individual showbiz careers.

R’Bonney Gabriel / CONTRIBUTED

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New Miss Universe crown designed by Filipino artisan

9. The new Miss Universe crown, called “Lumiere De L’Infini,” was created by a Cebu-based designer and features a gold-plated layer decorated with 23 gold pearls.

This year’s crown was presented yesterday by current Miss Universe, Sheynnis Palacios, in Mexico City.

The unveiling attracted prominent figures including Raul Rocha, chairman of Miss Universe, and Anne Jakrajutatip, executive director of JKN Global Group, the pageant’s parent company.

Rocha described the crown as “the most beautiful in the history of Miss Universe,” highlighting elements that reflect the rich history of the organization.

The crown, designed by Jewelmer, a Cebu-based jeweler that is collaborating with Miss Universe for the first time, showcases traditional craftsmanship and features the rare gold pearl, the national jewel of the Philippines. The event was attended by 127 participants and notable figures from the pageant world, including Osmel Sousa and several delegation directors.

CONTRIBUTED

10. Just before the Miss U pageant, Jojo Bragais unveiled a new pair of heels called Chelsea, inspired by Chelsea Manalo.

Designed to celebrate “relentless dreamers and resilient underdogs,” the metallic silver open-toe heels embody the spirit of perseverance.

Bragais has a strong history in pageantry and has designed shoes for several Miss U events since 2015.

Jojo Bragais / CONTRIBUTED

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This year’s pageant removed many previous restrictions, including age, marital status and body type for contestants. Last year, mothers were allowed to participate for the first time.

All delegates now in Mexico are preparing for the preliminary competition tonight. The main event and coronation will take place on November 16 at Arena Ciudad de Mexico, marking the end of Sheynnis Palacios’ reign and the beginning of a new era for the iconic pageant.

The preliminary gala will feature 30 finalists, while the final round will feature evening gown and swimwear performances.

This year’s competition features nearly 130 women from around the world, selected based on personal statements, interviews and various events.

During the final, the 30 selected candidates participate in a new swimsuit round, of which 18 are eliminated. The remaining 12 will showcase evening gowns, leading to another 7 eliminations.

The final 5 answer jury questions to determine the winner.

In addition to Cinco, the selection committee consists of notable figures such as producer Emilio Estefan, influencer Lele Pons, artist Romero Britto, fashion designer Eva Cavalli and former Miss Universe Margaret Gardiner.

The Miss Universe 2024 competition will air in the US on November 16 on Telemundo in Spanish, with simulcasts on Telemundo Internacional and USA Network throughout Latin and Central America.