MISS Universe Philippines 2024’s bet from Camiguin, Rethiana Rosa, admitted she got too excited after “sneaking a peek” at the national pageant’s results which ultimately resulted in the coronation of Bulacan’s Chelsea Manalo.
Rosa made waves on social media after she was caught on video not so subtly peeking at the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 results on the cue card of host Alden Richards, who was just about a meter away from her.
A screengrab by one @loveyourculture posted on Tiktok a clip of Rosa then mouthing something to her fellow candidates before exchanging high fives with them.
In a quick chat with INQUIRER.net, Rosa admitted that she, Occidental Mindoro’s Zoleil Taño, and Toledo City’s Kim Irish Placibe were betting on their chosen winner before she saw Richards’ card.
“I knew the winner was in Alden’s card since he announced the winners, so I tried to sneak a peek. Then I saw Cainta and Bulacan at the bottom,” she said referring to Cainta’s Stacey Gabriel and Manalo.
“It was quite easy to distinguish [the winners] because Cainta is shorter than the word Bulacan. So chinismis ko na sa mga katabi ko kaya kami nagtatawanan,” she continued. “Alden’s card was open and visible [even though] it looks far onscreen. Naka-wide lang ‘yung cam kaya medyo malayo po siyang tingnan. But in person, hindi talaga.”
Rosa recalled she peeked at the results because she was “too excited” about who would be crowned, although she meant “no harm.” Despite this, they were unaware they were being filmed at the time.
“We were just curious and we got excited with the results. We were just happy for Chelsea because we all knew she was such an underrated candidate,” she said.
The Camiguin native also confessed that she and her fellow delegates wanted to enjoy the rest of the pageant since they were already “feeling tired.”
“At the end of the day, we beauty queens are all humans. I know it was wrong to intentionally peek at the results card. We are not perfect, but we want to enjoy our final moments at the MUPH stage. It was entirely a raw situation,” she added.
While many fans consider Manalo to be a “dark horse” winner, Rosa said she already saw the potential in the Bulacan native “from the beginning” of the pageant.
“As a candidate myself, I saw her potential to win the crown. I actually told Chelsea that she would win at an Avon shoot,” she said. “I can vouch for all the other girls that we really are happy for Chelsea. We’re not bitter and no one was against her win. She really deserves it.”
When asked if she would enter the national tilt again, Rosa said joining the Miss Universe Philippines pageant once is already “enough” for her. (Hannah Mallorca © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
