MANILA: Pageant season in the Philippines is never truly over – it runs year-round. Similar to the excitement once sparked by Manny Pacquiao fights, Filipinos are now always thrilled about the Miss Universe pageant and hopeful to snag the fifth crown for the country.
In May, Chelsea Manalo of Bulacan was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2024, making history as the first Black Filipino woman to represent the country in Miss Universe 2024. But she isn’t the only Filipina competing.
On July 6, Christina Dela Cruz Chalk, a former Miss Universe Philippines candidate representing the Filipino community in the United Kingdom, won the Miss Universe Great Britain crown on her third attempt after two first runner-up finishes.
In an Instagram post, the half-Filipina, half-British beauty queen expressed her determination, captioning her post, “If at first you don’t succeed... try, try, try, try again.”
The 31-year-old beauty was also the Face of Scotland 2009 and a finalist in series 9 of Britain’s & Ireland’s Next Top Model. She also finished as a top 20 finalist during Miss Universe Philippines 2024 and is expected to reunite with Manalo in Mexico later this year.
Joining Manalo and Chalk in Mexico is Kiwi-Pinay beauty and Pinoy Big Brother Otso alum Franki Russell from Dunedin, who was recently appointed the official delegate of New Zealand.
In an Instagram post, the Filipina actress reflected on her decade-long journey, stating, “I applied for Miss Universe New Zealand in 2014 – I was 19 at that time and really didn’t know who I was as a person. Now that I am 29, 10 years older and with far more life experience, I realised that life definitely works in mysterious ways. As the saying goes: ‘everything happens for a reason,’ and it has led me to this new role.”
Russell also thanked her Filipino mother, siblings and late father for being her “amazing support system.”
Manalo, Chalk and Russell, though all Filipinas, will represent their respective countries at the 73rd Miss Universe in Mexico City.
Other Filipino beauties have also tried their luck after competing at MUPH this year, with Southern California’s Jet Hammond finishing in the top 16 at Miss California USA and Florida’s Matea Mahal Smith achieving a similar result. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
