Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjaer Theilvig and the continental queens. Image from MUPH EVP Voltaire Tayag Chelsea Manalo may not have posted the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe victory as she had wanted, but she will not go home empty-handed as she was bestowed a special title from the competition after she was named continental queen of Asia. Aside from Manalo, other continental queens are Miss Finland for Europe & Middle East), Miss Peru for the Americas, and Miss Nigeria for Africa and Oceania, as announced at a press conference held following the coronation night on Sunday, in Mexico City where Denmark’s Victoria Kjaer Theilvig won the Miss Universe 2024 title.

The Filipino queen was proclaimed as “Miss Universe Asia,” one of the “continental queens” that the organization promised to proclaim when it launched the 2024 competition. When Miss Universe Organization (MUO) co-owners Raul Rocha and Anna Jakrajutip launched the 2024 pageant, they said that four continental winners will be proclaimed, and will become part of the Top 30. It was not clear, though, if the continental winners had already been predetermined prior to the announcement of semifinalists.

The four ladies all hurdled the first cut. Manalo finished in the Top 30, and so was Finland’s Matilda Wirtavuori who was proclaimed as Miss Universe Europe and Middle East. Peru’s Tatiana Calmell, who finished in the Top 12, was proclaimed as Miss Universe Americas, while Miss Universe first runner-up Ch.