Third time’s the charm for this beauty from Quezon, as she finally bags the most prestigious local beauty pageant title during her third attempt. In a crowded field composed of pageant veterans and newbies, Ahtisa held her own from start to finish. As soon as she bounced back after falling on stage in her hot pink evening gown, she was unstoppable. In the end, the entrepreneur from Candelaria won not just the prized Jewelmer crown, but more importantly the hearts of fellow Filipinos.
By ANNE STEPHANIE NILO and ALEX Y. VERGARA
Ma. Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon Province was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2025 in a glittery coronation night held yesterday evening at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena. The event was the culmination of a two-month long search that saw more than 60 women from all over the country vying for the prized crown and the chance to represent the Philippines at Miss Universe in Bangkok later this year.
Ahtisa bested 65 rivals in a tight race that included Muntinlupa’s Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez, Sultan Kudarat’s Chelsea Fernandez, Siniloan, Laguna’s Yllana Marie Aduana, Taguig’s Katrina Llegado and Cebu’s Gabriella Mae Carballo.
The 27-year-old beauty from Quezon dazzled in Val Taguba’s resplendent hot pink evening gown. She beamed and sashayed her way on stage with elegance and poise despite a minor mishap that saw her falling on her behind seconds earlier after one of her shoes got caught in her long dress. She earlier sizzled in a two-piece swimsuit with 24 other semifinalists.
Ahtisa brought her A-game to the fore in the make-or-break question-and-answer round when she was asked about an event in her life where she “led by example.” She likened her mishap earlier to an important life lesson of getting back on your feet up after a fall. Her answer, which resonated with her fans who were cheering for her all night long, sealed the deal.
“I fell a while ago on stage. And the thing with me is, whenever I fall in life, I always make sure I come back stronger. Last year, I was here on this stage. For the second time this year, I’m here, putting everything on the stage to be Miss Universe Philippines because this is my and my grandmother’s shared dream,” she said.
Her answer further tugged at the heartstrings when she also mentioned that her grandmother “passed away early this year, and this is my ode to her.”
Pageant fans remember Ahtisa, who vied for the Miss Universe Philippines crown, which was eventually won by Catriona Gray, in 2018. Ahtisa, then 21, settled for the Binibining Pilipinas-International crown. During the Miss International competition in Tokyo later that year, she nearly ran away with the title, eventually settling for first runner-up. When the Miss Universe Philippines franchise was acquired by another group in 2020, Ahtisa bidded her time before joining again last year. She placed third to Chelsea Manalo.
Born and raised in Candelaria, Quezon, Ahtisa’s mother is of Filipino-Spanish descent, while her biological father is half Swedish and half Finnish, according to a report by The Philippine STAR. In later interviews, she revealed that she has yet to personally meet her father whom she only gets to talk to on the phone.
The grand coronation night, which featured Marlo Mortel and James Reid serenading the contestants, was a culmination of a series of preliminary events that started with the evening gown and swimsuit competitions last April 28, and the national costume competition last April 30.
In keeping with rules imposed by the Miss Universe Organization on its franchise holders not to crown any winner on stage other than the Miss Universe representative, last night’s contest was also noteworthy for another first. Only Ahtisa’s name was announced during the crowning moment. Her five other rivals were later awarded in a non-televised sub-event also on the same stage.
Ylanna and Wynwyn had to settle for second and first-runners up, respectively. Chelsea bagged the Miss Charm Philippines crown, Katrina won Miss Supranational Philippines, while Gabriella is the new Miss Eco International Philippines.
TV personalities Xian Lim and Gabbi Garcia, Tim Yap and Erika Kristensen Lee hosted the four-hour long main event.
Ahtisa hopes to bring home to the country the fifth Miss Universe crown when she competes in Thailand in November, adding to the earlier victories of Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margarita Moran in 1973, Pia Wurtzbach in 2015 and Catriona Gray in 2018.
