Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi and Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Chelsea Manalo. Image: Instagram/@celeste_cortesi, @themissuniverseph
By: Anne Pasajol
INQUIRER.net / 12:58 PM May 24, 2024
Celeste Cortesi appears unbothered as she laughed off the “hate” over her “what just happened” remark on the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 winners.
The Miss Universe Philippines 2022 titleholder was earlier at the receiving end of criticism for tweeting “What just happened?” after the winner announcement at this year’s Miss Universe Philippines finals night.
Netizens were quick to react and presumed that Cortesi was questioning titleholder Chelsea Manalo’s win, although the Filipino-Italian beauty queen later clarified that it was not what she meant.
Through her Instagram Stories on Thursday, May 23, Cortesi then showed herself enjoying her vacation in Bali, adding the caption: “When the haters hate you. [Charot]” alongside two laughing face emoji.
In a separate video, Cortesi and her companions were also seen alluding to the matter and apparently poking fun at it.
“Babe, what just happened?” one of them asked, to which Cortesi replied, “I have no idea what just happened. I am in Bali, guys!”
Cortesi, nonetheless, reshared her statement clarifying her reaction to the MUPH winners in a succeeding post.
“Let’s all relax and have a drink, char. Peace and love,” she added.
Aside from Manalo, other delegates who were crowned at the recent finals night were Tarah Valencia of Baguio as Miss Supranational Philippines; Cyrille Payumo of Pampanga as Miss Charm Philippines; Alexie Mae Brooks from Iloilo City as Miss Eco International Philippines; and Ma. Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon Province as Miss Cosmo Philippines.
Cainta’s Stacey Gabriel and Taguig’s Christi Lynn McGarry, meanwhile, were named 1st and 4th runners-up, respectively.
