Chelsea Manalo meets with Fil-Am community ahead of Miss Universe tilt
Photo from themissuniverseph/Instagram
As she diligently prepares for the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in November, Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo has taken a moment to connect with the Filipino American community in Los Angeles.
While her schedule is packed with training and rehearsals, the first Black woman to be crowned as the representative of the country to the pageant made a special effort to engage with notable personalities within the community.
In a recent update on the official Miss Universe Philippines Instagram account, several photos captured the Filipina beauty mingling with Fil-Am figures, including television producer Lisa Lew and renowned journalists Janet and Ruben Nepales.
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The post highlighted a charming gathering where the Bulacan native was warmly welcomed by community leaders in a beautifully arranged setting filled with food and meaningful conversations.
The caption aptly noted, “Prominent Filipino-Americans in Los Angeles got together to welcome Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo and the MUPH contingent.”
Janet Nepales took to her own Instagram account to share her excitement about meeting the 25-year-old beauty from Bulacan, praising Manalo’s warmth and charisma.
She wrote, “It was wonderful to welcome and meet Miss Universe Philippines, Chelsea Manalo, in her quick stop in LA before she heads to Mexico.” Accompanied by her team members, Jonas Gaffud and Voltaire Tayag, Manalo’s approachable demeanor resonated with those in attendance.
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The Filipina queen will remain in Los Angeles for a few more days as she finalizes her preparations for the Miss Universe coronation night, scheduled to take place in Mexico on Nov. 17.
There are also notable Filipinas competing in Mexico, including Miss Universe Great Britain Christina Dela Cruz Chalk and New Zealand’s Victoria Velasquez Vincent, both of whom are Chelsea Manalo’s batchmates at Miss Universe Philippines.
If Manalo wins, she will be the fifth Filipina to bring home the coveted Miss Universe crown.
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