Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2022 Chelsea Fernandez is embracing the excitement as the pageant season unfolds with the announcement of the official candidates for Miss Universe Philippines 2024.
She's particularly thrilled because her Binibining Pilipinas 2022 sister, Stacey Gabriel, who finished second runner-up, is now vying for the coveted Miss Universe Philippines 2024 crown.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) caught up with Chelsea for a brief conversation about the latest happenings in the pageant world at the grand opening of Hey Pretty Aesthetic Clinic in SM Sta. Rosa on February 10, 2024.
She told PEP.ph, "Well, I am very excited and at the same time, nainggit. I mean, nainggit kasi, wow, my friends are back on track again.
"They are now in the limelight. Alam mo yun, nakaayos ulit. But of course, at the same time, I am very happy for them.
"You know, they're aiming for goals. They're aiming for their dreams. And I am just here to support them."
CHELSEA FERNANDEZ: PAGEANT COMEBACK
As for Chelsea, she's not halting her pageant journey and is contemplating entering another national pageant. But she will only do it once she completes her dental braces treatment.
"There's a chance that I'm going to join another national pageant.
"But I think not this year pa. Because, as you can see, I have braces pa.
"So, you know, I'm fixing my lower teeth na kailangan ko talaga because there's something about my jaw also na nakakaapekto siya for my teeth.
"So, nag-advise yung dentist. I think I will not join a pageant this year pa.
"Pero hopefully next year versus or sa susunod na year. But I'm not closing any doors. I'll definitely join."
Chelsea said that she's considering the Miss Grand Philippines pageant or perhaps vying for the Miss World Philippines crown once she feels prepared to compete.
Regardless of her next pageant endeavor, Chelsea said she will be taking a different approach.
The beauty queen emphasized the value of her experience and expressed her intention to take a more hands-on approach in shaping her pageant journey.
"Yung sabi ko talaga sa sarili ko, once na I'll join another competition, gusto ko i-boost na lahat. You know, from my time, my focus, my attention, and even my ideas.
"Because I think, way back in 2022, I wasn't ready pa to come out in my comfort zone. I was so baby pa at that time, very childish.
"Umaasa ako sa team ko for their ideas, kung ano ba dapat strategy gawin namin.
"But this time, I think I am ready, I have matured enough. I've grown a lot from my last pageant.
"And two years na pahinga, I think naman nag-gain na ako ng a lot of knowledge, experiences, and I will use it as my advantage in my next or upcoming national pageant."
CHELSEA GRATEFUL FOR OPPORTUNITIES
More than anything, Chelsea is grateful for all the opportunities that came her way, two years after her victory at Binibining Pilipinas 2022 and one year after she relinquished the title.
She said, "I'm just grateful kasi, you know, the blessings are coming non-stop. I'm very grateful kasi as you can see naman, I won in 2022 pa.
"So, two years nang nakalipas. But still, I am here, very active. And, you know, joining a lot of events.
"I'm just so happy talaga kasi ang dami para yung opportunities. Hindi ako pinapabayaan ni God."
Is she open to possible opportunities in showbiz?
Chelsea answered, "Puwede, or puwede rin mag-hosting. Kasi gusto ko talaga yung ganyan. Magsalita-salita, interview on television.
"Kasi I took up broadcasting. So I really want to explore in that field."
Meanwhile, Anne Barretto, the clinic's CEO, echoes Chelsea's sense of gratitude for the opportunity to launch the aesthetic clinic alongside her business partners, Jun and Esmi Bañez.
She said, "Yung una, hindi ko po talaga expected, e, kasi parang po bago po mag-SM, medyo ano na yung... malaki requirements po nila.
"So, talagang parang feeling ko, ano na talaga, level up na talaga yung brand mo.
"Pero nga po ngayon, since na-touch-up po namin yung SM, ngayon konti-konti lumalabas na rin po kami sa mga province.
"So, super nag-excited po talaga ako.
"Actually, isa po sa mga plano ko this year, since nga po na-try na namin mag-SM and na-try na namin out-of-town po, parang plano ko naman po talaga mag-expand na Mindanao and Visayas ngayon 2024."
READ MORE:
- Bb. Pilipinas 2022 Queens Stacey Gabriel, Chelsea Fernandez, and Gabrielle Basiano on PEP Spotlight
- Binibining Pilipinas 2022 Queens nangsorpresa ng netizens
- Bb. Pilipinas queens Chelsea Fernandez, Gabby Basiano, Roberta Tamondong feel pressure to win international pageants
- Chelsea Fernandez, kasama sa Top 15 sa Miss Globe 2022; Dominican Republic, nag-uwi ng korona