Miss Universe 2024: Philippines' Chelsea Manalo wins Best in National Costume


The Miss Universe Organization has officially announced Chelsea Manalo of the Philippines as the Best in National Costume winner at Miss Universe 2024.

Completing the Top 3 finalists for the special award were Emilia Dides from Chile (second place) and Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen from Vietnam (third place).

Chelsea's national costume "Hiraya" meaning "the fruit of one's hopes, dreams, and aspirations" was voted the ultimate winner among 125 costumes showcased on this year's Miss Universe stage.

Created by Filipino fashion designer Manny Halasan, the winning costume was a homage to the Philippines' diverse history and culture.

It depicted the complex yet rich relationship between the Philippines and Mexico. The stunning creation was also an artistic interpretation of the introduction of both Christianity and Islam to the Philippines.

Aside from winning the Best in National Costume, Chelsea also placed in the Top 30 during the recently concluded 73rd Miss Universe pageant won by Denmark's Victoria Kjær Theilvig in Mexico City.

It was a back-to-back victory for the Philippines as last year's representative Michelle Dee, who made the Top 10 at Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador, also bagged the special award.

Photos: Chelsea Manalo, Miss Universe Philippines / Instagram

Popular posts from this blog

Kylie Chang crowned Miss California USA 2025

Image
Miss Golden State, Kylie Chang was crowned Miss California USA 2025 on Saturday, August 10 at Grand Hyatt Indian Wells. The 20-year-old UC Berkeley student and model succeeded last year's winner Samantha Ramos. She became the first-ever East Asian woman to win Miss California USA. Jenny Ting Crawford was named first runner-up while Kaylyn Slevin, Julia Price, Annie Lu, and Sophia Bruinsma were the second, third, fourth, and fifth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss California USA, a former competitive dancer, is currently pursuing a degree in business administration at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business. "This is an absolute dream come true and I am endlessly grateful for all of my family, friends, judges, sponsors, and mentors who have believed in me and walked beside me on this journey," she shared online. "This is just the beginning, and I can't wait to see where this journey leads me next," she added. Kylie will now prepar...
Read more

81-year-old model Choi Soon-hwa joins Miss Universe Korea 2024

Image
Choi Soon-hwa recently created a buzz in the pageant community when she appeared as the oldest contestant vying for Miss Universe Korea 2024. The 81-year-old senior model who walked her first runway in her 70s made history as she competes alongside more than 30 others in the upcoming national competition. If she wins this year's Miss Universe Korea, she will be the oldest Korean representative and contestant in the 73-year history of the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Korea 2024 final will be held on September 30 and the winner will head to Mexico for Miss Universe 2024 this November. Age restrictions were recently removed by the organizers to align with the new rules of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) that any woman, regardless of marital status, from age 18 can compete. Photo: Choi Soon-hwa / Instagram
Read more

Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2025 is Zashely Alicea Rivera

Image
Zashely Alicea Rivera, representing Dorado, was crowned Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2025 on Thursday, August 14 at Centro de Bellas Artes de Santurce in San Juan. The 25-year-old psychology graduate, professional ballet dancer and model will represent Puerto Rico at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. Samarys Barbot Arroyo of Jayuya was named first runner-up while Isys Arimar Santos Crespo of  Vieques, Marisabel Rivera Negrón of Ponce and  Aneichka Maldonado Torres of Canóvanas were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. The new Miss Universe Puerto Rico succeeded last year's winner  Jennifer Colón Alvarado who made the Top 12 at Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe Puerto Rico (@muniversepr) Photos: Josian Bruno / Wapa Digital
Read more

Who will be crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2025?

Image
Tonight, 77 contestants representing various Thai provinces will compete for the coveted title of Miss Universe Thailand 2025. Hosted by TV presenter Matthew Deane and former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova, the highly anticipated national pageant will be held at MGI Hall in Bangkok. Live streaming will be available on Grand TV official YouTube channel from 7 p.m. local time. This year's competition will be the first edition since Thai media personality and businessman Nawat Itsaragrisil took over the license for Miss Universe Thailand from TPN Global. The next Miss Universe Thailand will represent the "Land of Smiles" at Miss Universe 2025 to be held in the country this November. Among the heavy favorites for the crown include the representative of Saraburi province Veena Praveenar Singh who already joined the competition three times. Former Miss Supranational Thailand representing Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Praewwanich Ruangthong, who placed first runner-up at Miss Suprana...
Read more

Veena Praveenar Singh crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2025

Image
Veena Praveenar Singh bested 76 other contestants to win Miss Universe Thailand 2025 in a spectacular show on Saturday, August 23 at MGI Hall in Bangkok. The 29-year-old beauty representing the province of Saraburi will now prepare to compete in the upcoming Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this November. Praewwanich Ruangthong of Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and Naruemol Phimphakdee of Phuket were named the first and second runners-up, respectively. Kamonporn Thongphon of Nakhon Si Thammarat and Amandine Grasset of Pathum Thani rounded out the Top 5 finalists. The new Miss Universe Thailand was crowned by former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova from Canada. She made history as the first woman of Indian descent to win the national title. Veena was born in Chiang Mai to Indian parents and is a graduate of Thammasat University in Bangkok with a bachelor's degree in liberal studies. No stranger to pageantry, she has previously joined the national pageant three ti...
Read more

Nicole Peiliker-Visser crowned Miss Universe Bonaire 2025

Image
Nicole Peiliker-Visser was crowned Miss Universe Bonaire 2025 on Saturday, August 16 at Delfins Beach Resort in Kralendijk. The 41-year-old mother of four will represent Bonaire at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. She succeeds Ruby Pouchet who participated in the 73rd Miss Universe last year in Mexico. "This is the moment I've been preparing for my moment to sit before the judges, not just as a candidate, but as a woman of 41 who carries resilience, clarity, and an unwavering dream," shared the new Miss Universe Bonaire prior to winning her beauty title. "Today, my voice becomes my power, my story becomes my legacy, and my presence becomes my message: that it is never too late to rise, to shine, and to inspire," she added. Nicole made history as the oldest contestant to compete in the Miss Universe pageant since the organization abolished the age limit rule. She holds a bachelor's degree in business management and an associate's in fashion m...
Read more

Miss Universe Australia 2025 is Lexie Brant from Brisbane

Image
Queensland's Lexie Brant was proclaimed the winner of Miss Universe Australia 2025 on Friday, August 15 at Crown Perth in Burswood, Western Australia. The 21-year-old model from Brisbane bested 29 other contestants to win the national competition. She will represent Australia at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand this November. Ivy Prempeh was named first runner-up while Cara Mooney, Bianca Black, and Ash Donner were the second, third, and fourth runners-up, respectively. Completing the Top 10 finalists were Nadia Delis, Georgia Dewstow-Smith, Chloe Hardy and Asha Cooper. The new Miss Universe Australia was crowned by her predecessor Zoe Creed who participated in Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico. Lexie is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in occupation therapy. Besides her studies and professional modelling, she works at Brisbane Private Hospital. As Miss Universe Australia, she hopes to advocate for the importance of early childhood development, w...
Read more

Miss Universe China 2024 is Xue Hou from Beijing

Image
Xue Hou was crowned Miss Universe China 2024 during the national competition on Sunday, July 28 in Sanya Bay, Sanya City, Hainan Province. The 22-year-old model from Beijing will represent China at Miss Universe 2025 (74th Miss Universe) whose date and venue have yet to be announced. "We are sure Xuhe will carry the Chinese flag with pride and she will bloom towards the universe to show her true self," the organizers posted on social media. China will be represented at this year's Miss Universe pageant in Mexico this November with her predecessor, last year's winner Jia Qi from Chengdu. Meet the new Miss Universe China: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss Universe China • 环球小姐中国粉絲 (@missuniversechinapageantorg) Photos: Miss Universe China / Instagram
Read more

Miss Universe DR Congo 2025 is Déborah Djema

Image
Déborah Djema was announced the winner of Miss Universe DR Congo 2025 on Friday, August 22 at the Cultural and Arts Center in Kinshasa. The 26-year-old international strategic consultant is a graduate of the European Business School Paris with a master's degree in digital business and e-commerce. She will now prepare to represent the DR Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand this November. The new Miss Universe DR Congo was crowned by her predecessor Ilda Amani who competed in Miss Universe 2024 last November in Mexico. Orphaned at a young age, Déborah grew up between several countries and cultures. She is a former Miss Africa France winner, a polyglot and a founder of several projects focused on African women. Road to the 74th Miss Universe: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss universe Democratic Republic of Congo (@missuniverse_drcongo) Photos: Miss universe Democratic Republic of Congo /...
Read more

8 things to know about Miss USA 2022 R'Bonney Gabriel

Image
Miss Texas USA, R'Bonney Gabriel was proclaimed Miss USA 2022 last night at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nevada. Here are 8 things to know about the new Miss USA: 1. She is the 10th Miss Texas USA to win Miss USA next to Crystle Stewart (2008) and the first Filipino-American in history to win both the state and the national pageant. View this post on Instagram A post shared by R’Bonney Nola (@rbonneynola) 2. She was born to an American mother from Beaumont, Texas, and a Filipino father who left the Philippines for the US as a young student. 3. She is originally from Missouri City, Texas, and grew up in Houston with three older brothers. As the only girl of four siblings, she considers herself the baby of the family and often joked about being the favorite child. View this post on Instagram A post shared by R’Bonney Nola (@rbonneynola) 4.  At age 28, she is the oldest Miss USA winner in the pageant's 71-year history. Bu...
Read more