Cover Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo (Photography: Seven Barretto; image from @manalochelsea / Instagram)
Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo (Photography: Seven Barretto; image from @manalochelsea / Instagram)
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From youth empowerment to inmate care, discover the advocacies of the frontrunners of Miss Universe Philippines 2024
Miss Universe Philippines named its new top five last May 22. Chelsea Manalo from Bulacan won the crown and title, while her fellow queens Stacey Daniella Gabriel, Ma Ahtisa Manalo, Tarah Valencia, and Christi McGarry took the succeeding ranks, respectively.
Miss Universe has always been a platform for women to serve as inspirational leaders in their communities. Their roles extend beyond beauty and pageantry, involving active participation in social, environmental, and cultural initiatives.
As such, these queens now have a duty to the people. Each queen must bring her unique vision and passion to her advocacy efforts to inspire and drive meaningful change. Learn more about them below.
In case you missed it: 5 things to know about Chelsea Manalo, the new Miss Universe Philippines
Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo
Despite being a model since the age of 14, the new Miss Universe Philippines 2024 had to overcome intense bullying and racism because of her looks. This led Manalo to become an advocate of youth empowerment. Along the way, she decided to focus on children’s education, especially among indigenous communities.
She worked closely with Kids for Kids, a youth-led organisation dedicated to creating safe spaces for children, particularly in remote areas, and empowering them to become catalysts for change.
“We often doubt ourselves as humans, but self-confidence and strength are powerful tools to help us push through obstacles and improve,” she says in an Instagram post. “Having the strength to move past a barrier and stand up for what you are most passionate about is a part of mastering advocacy that can create an impact change.”
Read more: 5 Things to know about Chelsea Manalo, the new Miss Universe Philippines
Miss Universe Philippines 1st runner-up Stacey Gabriel
In March 2024, Gabriel launched her advocacy, The Daisy Legacy Prison Ministry. As someone involved in prison ministry for 12 years at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, she has been deeply exposed to the lives and conditions of the grandmothers inside the institution.
Naming the ministry after her own late grandmother, she explains: “What my grandmother taught me is to love those who are considered outcasts in society because they are the ones who need love the most.” The Daisy Legacy Prison Ministry aims to help the 700 inmates by providing them with care and offering hope for a better future.
Miss Universe Philippines 2nd runner-up Ahtisa Manalo
Miss Universe Philippines Quezon Province Ahtisa Manalo is an LGBTQIA+ advocate and has been since her Binibining Pilipinas-International stint in 2018.
Manalo also works closely with Alon Akademie, an organisation that empowers kids to shape their future by exploring creativity and solving real problems. They teach them to think like entrepreneurs, embrace failures, be guided by curiosity, and learn by doing. Through the group, the beauty queen encourages the next generation to act on their dreams.
Miss Universe Philippines 3rd runner-up Tarah Valencia
Baguio city representative Tarah Valencia dedicates her life to her hometown. Having seen the impact of tourism on Baguio’s delicate ecosystem up close, she is intent on promoting sustainable tourism practices.
Growing up in a top tourist destination has given her a deep appreciation for the necessity of conserving natural resources.
Miss Universe Philippines 4th runner-up Christi McGarry
As a travel show host, Christi McGarry is passionate about promoting the Philippines and preserving its natural beauty through sustainability and eco-tourism. She seeks to inspire others to explore the wonders of nature while promoting responsible travel practices.
“I have this deep love for travel and nature,” she shares. “Our relationship to the world and one another is innate, and we are all intricately interconnected. Earth is our mother, so wouldn’t you feel the need to nurture and protect her as she’s always done for us?”
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
