Ahtisa Manalo capped her Miss Universe run recently earning a third runner up finish.
The crown went to Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, who, earlier, had an altercation with Miss Universe Thailand director, Nawat Itsaragrisil.
Manalo’s journey to the Miss Universe stage is the story of a young woman who has been rising, falling, and rising again since she was a child.
Born on May 25, 1997, in Candelaria, Quezon, the 28-year-old grew up with a quiet determination that would shape much of her life.
Pageantry entered her world early: at just ten years old, she was already joining local competitions, using her winnings to help support her education. That early discipline carried her to college, where she finished a degree in accountancy at the Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation.
Her name first echoed on the international pageant scene in 2018, when she won Binibining Pilipinas International and went on to represent the Philippines in Miss International. There, she impressed judges and audiences alike, earning the 1st runner-up title — a feat that cemented her reputation as one of the country’s most naturally gifted beauty queens.
But the years that followed would prove that her grace went beyond crowns. In 2024, she returned to the national stage at Miss Universe Philippines, finishing as second runner-up before later being appointed Miss Cosmo Philippines. She competed at Miss Cosmo internationally, placing in the Top 10 and securing multiple awards, including People’s Choice and Miss Cosmo Tourism Ambassador. With every appearance, she showed refinement, maturity, and an understanding of the evolving demands of modern pageantry.
Her biggest turning point, however, came in 2025, when she captured the Miss Universe Philippines crown. It wasn’t just a victory — it was a moment framed by vulnerability. Ahtisa stumbled onstage during the evening gown segment, but in her final answer, she turned that fall into a symbol of resilience, telling the judges that every setback in her life had only pushed her to rise stronger. It was a message that resonated deeply, especially as she dedicated her win to her grandmother, who had passed away earlier that year and remained a guiding source of strength for her.
Outside the spotlight, Ahtisa is an entrepreneur with business ventures that span cafés in Australia and food brands in the Philippines. She champions youth empowerment, gender equality, and LGBTQ+ inclusion — causes she speaks about with the calm conviction of someone who understands her influence and uses it purposefully.
