As it should be. One of the toughest things a Filipina woman can go through is joining a pageant in a powerhouse country like the Philippines.
Every move, every post, every character development, every choice of outfit or makeup is highly scrutinized, especially if the Philippine representative is competing in one of the créme de la créme pageants such as Miss Universe.
We have seen past candidates break down on social media live, not expecting to be shaken by outside forces and fans during the competition proper.
We have also seen past candidates unknowingly showing their real colors as they post not very demure content of them engaging in questionable social media posts and trends.
The ones that rise above it all though are the candidates with mental fortitude.
Think Catriona Gray, who had one of the biggest side issues during her reign when she chose to build her Team Catriona back when two pageant training camps were the only ones recognizable at the time.
It won her the Miss Universe crown and proved everyone wrong.
Her caption “vibrate higher” than the negativity is a motto that the succeeding queens have been applying.
That is what we are seeing with current Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo when we sent her off Los Angeles, California, last Monday, as she has officially started her Miss Universe adventure towards the possible fifth crown for the Philippines.
She was brought to the airport by her parents and designer Manny Halasan, who will make Chelsea’s outfits from preliminary to finals.
The Bulakenya beauty was in high spirits already, donning a trench coat in tropical weather, a slick bun and glowing makeup that she did by herself.
“Hinandana ko na sarili ko para sa LA,” said she.
Chelsea is still there as we speak, as she said that she is just going to be polishing her last-minute trainings. Her focus, though, is what’s most essential.
“Mental talaga! Mental trainings ang focus ko,” shared she. “These are the things that I really have to focus on kasi once you get to the finals, once the activities start, dirediretso na yan!”
Chelsea also emphasized the importance of clear communication with her team.
“Having the communication with my Q&A coach, my makeup trainer, pasarela. if I’m able to communicate effectively, then I’m gonna have the best time there,” said she.
We are aware that happiness is a choice, but with so much external forces weighing in on Chelsea’s moves, this is her best bet for a clutter free strategy to advance to the next level and get noticed.
This year, many Filipina beauty queens found a way to join Miss Universe. If they are “halfies,” half-Filipino and half-foreigner, they apply in their foreign half and represent that respective country, knowing that the competition is far less, but they will still manage to have the Filipino pageant crazy crowd support them.
This year, we have three other Filipinas besides Chelsea. They are Miss Bahrain Shereen Ahmed, Miss Great Britain Christina Chalk and Miss New Zealand Victoria Vincent.
Instead of being threatened by this, Chelsea looks at it as a welcome development and a stronger chance that sisterhood among them shall prevail.
Chelsea says that Victoria once helped her. “She even lent me a gown before in the competition. Malay mo maghiraman pa kami! It’s so exciting,” shared she.
The Miss Universe pageant is on Nov. 16 in Mexico, and Chelsea is flying in on Oct. 29. In the past, candidates that the Philippines sent already amassed close to 1,000,000 or even maybe more followers on social media. They even have themed “pasabog” pictorials left and right, as well as videos of the behind-the-scenes flooding our timelines.
When we asked her when she will start peaking in her journey or the moment when she will shower us with many spectacles, she said that she has been doing it already.
“I am already peaking,” she stressed.
What this means is that with the ever-evolving algorithm and pageant audience, Chelsea is doing it differently this time and only posting when it matters but also working thrice as hard behind the scenes.
Her focus is herself, her confidence, and what she could bring to the table. She promises us that she will have a surprise for us though when competition week begins.
All the best, Chelsea!