Filipino-American Chelsea Manalo became the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Universe Philippines on Wednesday, marking a significant moment in the nation’s beauty pageant history.
Manalo, 24, whose mother is Filipino and father is African American, received widespread acclaim on social media for challenging traditional beauty standards in the Philippines.
“Chelsea’s win challenges our ingrained preference for Eurocentric beauty (features) and lighter complexions in our nation,” wrote one user on an Instagram post by the official Miss Universe Philippines account. Another commenter celebrated by saying, “Filipino beauty standard shattered into pieces.”
Representing Bulacan, a province north of Manila, Manalo emerged victorious over 52 other contestants at the competition held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. During the final round, she addressed how she would use her beauty and confidence to empower others, stating, “As a woman of color, I have always faced challenges in my life. I was told that beauty has standards, actually. Believe in yourself and uphold the vows that you have.”
Manalo’s victory comes amid ongoing discussions about diversifying beauty ideals in the Philippines, where lighter skin tones have historically been favored, influenced by the country’s colonial past. Reflecting on her journey, Manalo shared in a YouTube video by Empire Philippines, “I grew up having insecurities as I was always bullied because of my skin and my hair type,” crediting her friends and family for helping her recognize her unique beauty.
Chelsea Manalo will represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico this September, aiming to secure the country’s fifth title. Previous Filipino Miss Universe winners include Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018).
This year’s Miss Universe pageant will feature contestants from over 100 countries and will no longer have an upper age limit for participants, allowing for a broader range of competitors.
The Miss Universe organization has recently faced scrutiny, with the parent company of Miss USA embroiled in allegations of mismanagement and creating a toxic work environment, leading to the resignations of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA earlier this month.
