Cover Meet Ahtisa Manalo, Miss Universe Philippines 2025 (Photo: Instagram / @ahtisa)
Meet Ahtisa Manalo, Miss Universe Philippines 2025 (Photo: Instagram / @ahtisa)
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Behind the Miss Universe Philippines 2025 title are stories of absence, ambition and a grandmother’s promise. Here are five things to know about Ahtisa Manalo
Ma Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon Province was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2025 on May 2 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, rising above a field of 65 candidates. She is set to represent the Philippines at the 74th Miss Universe competition, which will be held in Thailand this November. Manalo, 26, secured the national title on her second attempt, after competing in the 2024 edition.
Her performance was marked by both poise and resilience. She tripped during the Evening Gown segment but recovered quickly, later referencing the incident in her final answer during the Q&A: “Whenever I fall in life, I always make sure I come back stronger.” Manalo dedicated the crown to her grandmother, who passed away earlier this year, calling the win “our shared dream.”
Here are five things to know about the country’s new representative to the global stage.
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She began joining pageants at age 10
Ahtisa Manalo’s involvement in pageantry spans several years. She began entering local competitions as a child, using prize money to pay for tuition and support her family. During the preliminary interview, she framed her Miss Universe Philippines bid as the culmination of that journey, saying: “It would be a good representation of going for your dreams.”
Her grandmother’s memory shaped her return to the pageant stage
Above Here is Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon Province. And this is HER STORY. (Video: Youtube / Empire Philippines)
In both 2024 and 2025, Ahtisa Manalo competed at Miss Universe Philippines. This year’s campaign was more personal—she dedicated it to her grandmother, who passed away months before the coronation. Her tribute during the final Q&A resonated with judges and audiences alike, underscoring a narrative of perseverance and personal loss.
Outside pageantry, she’s also known for her interest in gaming
Ahtisa Manalo is a known fan of Hogwarts Legacy, once admitting to playing the video game for three straight days with minimal sleep or food. The anecdote surfaced in media interviews and served to contrast the polished image often associated with beauty queens. “Walang ligo. Eew!” she joked—offering a glimpse into a more candid, everyday persona.
She is an LGBTQIA+ community ally
Ahtisa Manalo has long been a vocal advocate for gender equality and LGBTQIA+ inclusion—not out of obligation, but because it has always been close to home. “I have family members who are gay, and I have a lot of friends who are gay also—my mentors, my friends, my supporters,” she said. “I’m surrounded by gay people and the LGBT community.” Her stance is not performative. She calls out homophobia when she sees it, and speaks with conviction about allyship. “I really try to speak about it,” she said. “I’m really strong when it comes to gender equality.”
She has spoken publicly about the absence of her father
In a 2024 interview, Ahtisa Manalo shared that her Finnish father left when she was young, adding: “I felt like I wasn’t enough, or I was the reason he left.” Her openness about this aspect of her upbringing adds nuance to the public image she now holds and has contributed to a growing sense of relatability among supporters.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
