Chelsea Manalo reveals she almost withdrew from the Miss Universe Philippines pageant

Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo revealed that there was a time when she almost backed out of the competition due to financial problems.

The newly crowned queen said this during her first press conference held on Friday in Pasay City.

“I really had financial issues. I think most of the girls actually had that problem as well, but as for me kasi I joined here as an independent woman. Everything that I had to go through to the pageant, I laid it out on myself,” the Bulakenya beauty said.

“I told my mom and my dad [that] I want to join this season for Miss Universe Philippines, so they really did support me. But because of this, I had to also risk of quitting my job, so because of that, the only income that I have was just a couple amounts," continued Chelsea.

She said that the problem affected her team as well.

“It really did put me at my most that I was about to quit. But thank God, there are people who supported me to continue and push me to continue further,” she said.

Chelsea also thanked the government of Bulacan for helping her financially.

“It’s no joke—I would like to say that I think all of the ladies, for four months, it’s really scary, and it’s a really long battle for all of us to fight it. You don’t know where our resources will come because everyone would have to risk something, and this is what happened to me, but because of the support that I’ve been getting, it made me continue and now I’m here,” she said.

Chelsea was crowned the new Miss Universe Philippines during the coronation night held on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Stacey Gabriel of Cainta was named the first runner-up and Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon Province was named the second runner-up.

Tarah Valencia of Baguio is the third runner-up, while Christi McGarry of Taguig is the fourth runner-up.

Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo said she almost withdrew from the pageant due to financial problems. pic.twitter.com/fGciOU1W74

— Carby Basina (@CarbyGMANews) May 24, 2024

— CDC, GMA Integrated News