Chelsea Manalo

Manalo grew up in Malhacan, Meycauayan. Her parents separated in 2000 after her mother chose not to move to the United States, and from age ten to twelve she lived with her paternal grandmother in Las Vegas, Nevada.

She studied at De La Salle Araneta University, earning a Bachelor of Science in tourism management. She began modeling at 14 and has cited Naomi Campbell as an early inspiration.

Manalo worked as a professional model before her national pageant success and became an endorser for the Filipino clothing brand Bench in 2021. Her first major pageant was Miss World Philippines 2017, where she reached the Top 15 at the final on September 3, 2017, and was a finalist in the Top Model challenge.

She returned to competition in 2024 at Miss Universe Philippines, held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. At the coronation night on May 22, 2024, which ran past midnight, she was crowned by outgoing titleholder Michelle Dee. Her platform included advocacy for the Dumagat indigenous community of Norzagaray, Bulacan, and work with the youth group Kids for Kids.

At Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico City she advanced to the Top 30; the title went to Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark. Manalo was named Miss Universe Asia and won Best National Costume, and in the pageant's Voice for Change segment she spoke for the children of overseas Filipino workers. She has since appeared as herself in the 2025 film Call Me Mother and in the music video for Orange and Lemons' "La Bulaqueña".