By Chelsea Manalo, a 24-year-old Filipino American, has made history by becoming the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Universe Philippines on Wednesday. Her groundbreaking victory is being celebrated on social media as a significant step towards challenging and diversifying traditional beauty ideals in the country.
Born to a Filipino mother and an African American father, Manalo’s win is seen as a powerful statement against the long-held preference for Eurocentric features and lighter complexions in the Philippines.
Social media users have praised her achievement, with one commenting on the Miss Universe Philippines’ official Instagram account, “Chelsea’s win challenges our ingrained preference for Eurocentric beauty (features) and lighter complexions in our nation.” Another user described the moment as “Filipino beauty standard shattered into pieces.”
Manalo, who represented Bulacan, a province north of Manila, emerged victorious among 52 other contestants from across the archipelago and overseas. The competition, held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, saw her impress the judges with her poise and eloquence.
When asked how she would use her beauty and confidence to empower others, Manalo spoke about the challenges she faced as a woman of color. “I was told that beauty has standards, actually,” she said, adding that she was taught to “believe in my mother, to always believe in yourself, uphold the vows that you have.”
Manalo’s win is part of a broader conversation about diversifying beauty standards in the Philippines, a country where Western ideals have long prevailed, shaped in part by its colonial past. Lighter-skinned actors and models typically dominate major TV shows, movies, and fashion campaigns, and skin-lightening treatments and products are widespread, as is common in other Asian countries.
In a YouTube video on Empire Philippines, which livestreamed the event, Manalo opened up about her insecurities growing up. “I grew up having insecurities as I was always bullied because of my skin and my hair type,” she said, crediting her friends and family for helping her “realize that I am beautiful in my extraordinary way.”
Manalo, who began modeling at the age of 14, will now represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant to be held in Mexico in September. She aims to bring home the fifth title for the country, following in the footsteps of Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018).
This year’s Miss Universe competition will see representatives from over 100 countries and will remove the upper age limit previously set for contestants, allowing those over the age of 28 to participate. The Miss Universe organization has recently come under scrutiny following the resignations of both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA earlier in May, amid allegations of mismanagement, a toxic work environment, and conditions that impacted their mental health.
Chelsea Manalo’s historic win as the first Black Filipino woman to be crowned Miss Universe Philippines is a significant milestone in challenging beauty standards and promoting diversity in the country and beyond.
