Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo and Miss Supernational 2023 1st Runner-up Pauline Amelinckx. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo and Miss Supernational 2023 1st Runner-up Pauline Amelinckx. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — Pauline Amelinckx on Wednesday sent her full support to Miss Universe Philippines Chelsea Manalo, who will be competing in November at the 73rd edition of Miss Universe in Mexico.

Amelinckx represented the country in Miss Supranational 2023, where she was 1st runner-up.

Amelinckx believes that Manalo’s biggest talent is her unique look, noting that she “looks very different.”

“She’s a very unique beauty. She’s something that we’re celebrating in this event today. I think that is an asset of hers that she’s bringing a different twist to what we know as a modern Filipina beauty,” said Amelinckx.

“We’ve all seen her journey to Miss Universe Philippines, and she was a vision on that stage. And I’m sure now with her preparations and training with the Miss Universe Philippines Organization, I’m sure that she’s more than ready now to conquer that stage in Mexico and of course we are more than ready to support her in that conquest,” she added.

Manalo made history this year as the first Black Filipina to win the Miss Universe Philippines crown.

Manalo received an official send-off to the pageant last week, where she said she got an “extra boost of confidence” from the messages of her friends, family, and team members.

“All of those people supporting me— right now I feel more excited to see so many of you who are here to support me. I feel that I am much more ready now to go to Mexico,” said Manalo before her departure for Mexico.

Manalo is eyeing the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe crown during the finals night scheduled for November 16.