MANILA — Bulacan's Chelsea Manalo will be representing the Philippines at the upcoming Miss Universe pageant after winning the local competition on Wednesday.

Manalo bested 52 other candidates after more than 5 hours of several segments of this year's pageant held at the Mall of Asia Arena.

In the Top 5 question and answer portion, Manalo was asked: "You are beautiful and confident, how will you use these qualities to empower others?"

"As a woman of color, I have always faced challenges in my life. I was told that beauty has standards actually. But for me, I have listened and always believed in my mother to always believe in yourself, and uphold the values that you have in yourself," Manalo said. 

"Because of this, I am already influencing a lot of you facing me right now as a transformational woman. I have here 52 other delegates with me who have helped me be the woman that I am. Thank you," she added. 

Manalo was crowned by Miss Universe 2023 Top 10 Michelle Dee and will be aiming for the 5th Miss Universe crown for the Philippines.

The Philippines has 4 Miss Universe after the victories of Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018).

OTHER PLACEMENTS:

1st runner-up: Stacey Daniella Gabriel (Cainta) 

2nd runner-up: Maria Ahtisa Manalo (Quezon Province) 

3rd runner-up: Justine Tarah Marie Valencia (Baguio) 

4th runner-up: Christi Lynn McGarry (Taguig) 

TOP 10

• Kris Tiffany Janson (Cebu)
• Alexie Mae Brooks (Iloilo City)
• Victoria Velasquez Vincent (Bacoor)
• Cyrille Payumo (Pampanga) 
• Anita Rose Gomez (Zambales)

TOP 20

• Christina Chalk (United Kingdom) 
• Kayla Jean Carter (Northern California)
• Justine Tarah Marie Valencia (Baguio)
• Alexandra Mae Rosales (Laguna)
• Raven Hate Doctor (Palawan)
• Kymberlee Street (Australia)
• Selena Alexis Antonio-Reyes (Pasig) 
• Tamara Ocier (Tacloban)
• Patricia Bianca Tapia (Hawaii)
• Angel Rose Tambal (Leyte)
• Maica Martinez (Nueva Ecija)