Chelsea Manalo’s final evening gown, designed by Manny Halasan, may not have graced the Miss Universe 2024 stage, but its blue hue, gradient detail, and feathered accents still radiated magic
Chelsea Manalo reached the Top 30 at Miss Universe 2024, but her final evening gown certainly deserved a standing ovation—whether it hit the main stage or not. Designed by Manny Halasan, this gown in gradient Tiffany blue was a vision of soft elegance and elaborate detailing.
RELATED: How Chelsea Manalo’s Prelims Evening Gown Would’ve Looked Like If She Walked
Halasan himself describes the gown as “modern glamour meets timeless grace,” an ensemble made to make sure all eyes were on Manalo. “A statement that our Queen is ready to be seen and will make her mark,” he emphasizes, presenting a look that radiated confidence from every angle.
Feathered Fantasy
The gown was a study in contrasts: a feathered fantasy that was equal parts softness and strength. Covered in ostrich feathers, it gave the illusion of a regal armor that was anything but ordinary. Halasan calls it a “soft armor… simple yet strong, subtle but remarkable,” a clever mix of textures that focused on grace and grit.
The feathers brought a lively effect that seemed ready to captivate the Miss Universe stage. Though Manalo didn’t get to stride down the runway, she wore the gown in a photoshoot that felt as poised and natural as a queen’s wave, turning each imagined corner with a sense of regal assurance.
A Finale That Deserved the Spotlight
Manny Halasan crafted a moment that deserved its place under the Miss Universe lights. “Every step, every turn, and every air that breathes into this gown is magic that cannot be ignored,” he says. It’s a gown that captured the spirit of someone who knows how to make an entrance, even if the spotlight wasn’t on her this time around.
While Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo’s run may have been cut short, this gown was proof that style’s message can leave an impression—sometimes louder than a crown ever could. Here’s hoping we’ll see more of her standout looks in the future, because if this gown is any sign, she’s got plenty more head-turning moments up her sleeve.
Photography, Creative Direction & Produced by SEVEN BARRETTO. Art Direction & Set Design by ERWIN BOTIN of BOTIN STUDIOS. Gown by MANNY HALASAN. Styled by PARIS ROXAS. Makeup by CHELSEA MANALO and KENNETH MARCELINO. Hair by JERRY BUAN JAVIER and ANGELU DOMINGUEZ.