Reigning Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo (middle) and 2025 candidates (clockwise from prime, left) Alessandra Eugenio, Francchezca Pacheco, Sasha Lacuna and Rendelle Ann Caraig/ARMIN P. ADINA
This yr’s version of the Miss Universe Philippines pageant is a hotly contested competitors with a slew of seasoned queens with worldwide expertise and titles. However the lesser-known aspirants are drawing inspiration from the Cinderella story of reigning queen Chelsea Manalo.
The reigning queen was technically not a beginner when she competed final yr, having participated within the Miss World Philippines pageant seven years prior, ending as a semifinalist. However different contenders had higher accomplishments — worldwide runners-up Ahtisa Manalo and Christi McGarry and international winners Alexandra Rosales and Cyrille Payumo
Many within the 2025 competitors see Manalo’s victory as proof that the Miss Universe Philippines pageant continues to be anyone’s sport, and even nationwide pageant rookies get an opportunity to clinch the crown.
Rendelle Anne Caraig from Los Baños, Laguna, had already taken half within the Binibining Pilipinas pageant, however went dwelling empty-handed. And she or he acknowledges that she is the “darkish horse” among the many Laguna triumvirate that features worldwide mannequin Eloisa Jauod and 2023 Miss Earth-Air Yllana Aduana.
“I’m impressed (by Manalo’s victory). I consider that something is feasible. It’s only a matter of manifestation and believing in oneself,” Caraig advised INQUIRER.web in an interview.
Pasig Metropolis’s Alessandra Eugenio additionally holds the identical perception. “Whether or not you’re a veteran or a beginner, you’ve an opportunity so long as you give your 101 p.c and you’re employed on what you wish to obtain in life,” she stated in a mixture of English and Filipino.
Sasha Lacuna from Tarlac, who’s becoming a member of her first-ever nationwide pageant after successful the 2024 Bb. Kanlahi crown in her province, noticed Manalo take dwelling the Miss Universe Philippines crown reside.
“Chelsea was actually shining like a extremely dim star at first. However she continued to develop and develop through the coronation night time. So I feel the truth that that occurred might actually say that this pageant could possibly be tremendous unpredictable. So it could possibly be in a single spectrum, after which fully reverse on the opposite,” Lacuna stated.
Manalo’s provincial successor Franchezca Pacheco carries a fair higher stress. Apart from making an attempt to win over extra standard bets, she can also be concentrating on a second consecutive win for Bulacan.
“I take it as ‘good stress’ as a result of Bulacan has been extra supportive in relation to pageantry. And I do know that each Bulakenya is resilient, and I do know I’m bringing this within the competitors,” Pacheco stated.
“What I discovered from [Manalo’s] journey is to all the time be a queen on a regular basis, on and off the digicam. Chelsea could be very regal, very sort at coronary heart. As a result of a real queen will all the time have an awesome coronary heart,” she added.
The 4 girls are among the many 66 aspirants within the competitors, who additionally embody Aduana, 2018 Miss Worldwide runner-up Ahtisa Manalo, 2017 Reina Hispanoamericana Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez, 2019 Reina Hispanoamericana Quinta Finalista (fifth runner-up) Katrina Llegado, 2019 Miss Asia Pacific Worldwide second runner-up Jessica Cianchino, 2020 High Mannequin of the World semifinalist Tyra Goldman, and 2017 Miss Supranational finalist Chanel Olive Thomas.
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The 2025 Miss Universe Philippines coronation present might be held on the Mall of Asia Area in Pasay Metropolis on Could 2. The winner might be despatched to the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand in November.