Cebu Province candidate for this year’s Miss Universe Philippines, Chella Falconer, announced on social media that she is stepping down as one of the contestants in this year’s pageant.

On Instagram, Falconer shared the news that she is bidding farewell to the competition.

“The first month and a half of my Miss Universe Philippines 2025 journey has been nothing short of amazing—from the incredible experiences to the wonderful moments shared with the MUPH staff and my fellow candidates (so beautiful inside and out, by the way),” she wrote in her post.

A seasoned pageant contender, Falconer expressed how much she cherished her time as part of this year’s competition.

“I have cherished every second. Though my journey is coming to an early close, my heart is full of gratitude for this opportunity,” she added.

As she steps away from the pageant, she also expressed gratitude to those who supported her throughout her journey.

“To everyone who has supported me along the way—thank you from the bottom of my heart."

This may be a pause, but growth isn’t always about reaching the finish line; sometimes, it’s about knowing when to take a different path,” she shared.

Falconer also took the opportunity to clarify rumors about past competitions she had withdrawn from.

“P.S. This is my first time stepping away from a national competition. Just to set the record straight—I never screened for MWP, so the rumors about me backing out from it aren’t true. It was Miss Elite World (an international competition) that I didn’t pursue, but there was a reason for that,” she explained.

Following Falconer’s withdrawal, 67 candidates remain in the running for the Miss Universe Philippines 2025 crown.

The Miss Universe Philippines 2025 coronation night will take place on May 2 at 6 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The winner will be crowned by Miss Universe Philippines 2024 and reigning Miss Universe Asia, Chelsea Manalo. She will go on to represent the Philippines at Miss Universe 2025, scheduled for November 21 at the Impact Muang Thong Thani Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.