Get to know Ahtisa Manalo, the newly crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2025
Get ready, universe, because a new Miss Universe Philippines queen has been crowned.
Representing Quezon Province, Ahtisa Manalo triumphed over 65 other aspirants to be crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2025 during the coronation night held at the Mall of Asia Arena on May 2.
Ahtisa's win was the result of her consistent effort and the pageant experience she meticulously cultivated over time. She first made a name for herself in 2018 when she placed first runner-up at Miss International, a clear sign of her potential early on.
Though she fell short of the title in the 2024 edition of MUPh, Ahtisa proved her resilience by returning with renewed strength and determination. Her hard work finally paid off as she claimed the crown on her second try.
Now, Ahtisa is preparing to represent the Philippines on the global stage at the 74th Miss Universe pageant, which will take place on Nov. 21 at the Impact Muang Thong Thani Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
To get to know her better, continue reading below.
A pageant veteran
Ahtisa began pageantry at the young age of 10. Coming from a modest background, she was raised with the support of her grandmother who helped send her to school despite financial struggles.
Looking for ways to continue her education, young Ahtisa saw an opportunity in a local beauty pageant where the grand prize offered free tuition. She joined with hope, and that moment marked the beginning of her pageant journey.
In 2017, she represented her province in the Reyna ng Aliwan Festival 2017, placing 2nd runner-up. She was also named Queen of the Niyogyugan Festival.
A year later, she joined Binibining Pilipinas and made her global debut at Miss International, where she proudly brought home the 1st Runner-Up title.
In 2024, she took her first shot at the MUPh crown. It wasn't her year, but it also wasn't the end. Instead of walking away, she forged ahead, proudly representing the nation in Miss Cosmo 2024, finishing in the top 10.
She returned to MUPh the following year more grounded, focused, and determined than ever. And this time, she triumphed.
Business-minded
Beyond the glitz of pageantry, Ahtisa is also a savvy entrepreneur. She's involved in multiple business ventures, including a natural yogurt brand, Koomi, where she leads the finance and budget management, as well as two cafés in Australia.
Likewise, during this year's MUPH closed-door interview, Ahtisa reflected on her early inclination toward entrepreneurship, even as a child. She shared a story about how she used to get excited when people would drink at their house—not because of the occasion itself, but because it meant there would be leftover bottles, plastics, and scrap materials like metal that she could collect.
"Eversince I was young, I feel like I had the entrepreneurial spirit already. Favorite ko everytime before kapag may mag-iinom sa bahay because ibig sabihin may mga bote silang maiiwan, Emperador, mga plastics, bakal at kung ano ano and I would spend a lot of time trying to find those. and everytime, every sunday, papasok yung magbobote, dadaan siya sa bahay namin then I would sell it and I would keep it," she said.
Ahtisa, who earned her degree in Accountancy from the Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation in Quezon, added, "That's where I started my savings, and I feel like, unknowingly, that's where I started being business-minded."
Almost a police officer
Ahtisa previously mentioned she once considered becoming a police officer. However, in a Facebook post, she revealed that her family dissuaded her from pursuing it. Nonetheless, she never regrets her decision to follow them.
“There are requirements para makapasa ka ng form; kailangan mo ng health clearance. I got all of that nang hindi nila (family) alam. I got an endorsement letter from Chief of Police sa Lucena City,” she said, as per the post.
She followed her family's wishes out of deep love for them and had great admiration for her mother. “Mother knows best. Pag sumusuway tayo, nag-eend up na hindi magandang decisions.”
Likewise, according to a GMA News report, Ahtisa wasn't originally planning to join Binibining Pilipinas in 2018 because she had already applied to the Philippine National Police Academy. She explained that several of her close relatives, including her uncles and grandfather, are members of the police force, and they inspired her to make a difference.
"My uncles, and also my grandfather, are part of the police force. I wanted to make a difference, to explore all the possibilities, because I know I want to do a lot, and that's one of them," she said.
Almost a politician
In this year's midterm elections, Ahtisa initially applied for candidacy as municipal councilor for Quezon Province but withdrew on Feb. 25 to focus on pageantry.
"With a heavy heart, I am officially withdrawing my candidacy as municipal councilor of Candelaria. This was not an easy decision, and I know it might come as a surprise," Ahtisa said in a statement.
She noted she was given an "unexpected but incredible opportunity" to represent Quezon Province anew in this year's pageant.
An LGBTQ+ advocate
Ahtisa has long been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and gender equality, sharing her strong stance on these important issues and emphasizing her commitment to speaking out for equality and inclusion.
"I'm really strong when it comes to gender equality when it comes to [the] LGBT community, I really try to speak about it, I call [out] someone who is being homophobic, and that's what I'm strong about lang," she told GMA News Online.
"I have family members who are gay, and I have a lot of friends who are gay also, my mentors, my friends, my supporters, I'm surrounded by gay people and the LGBT community," she added.
She hasn't met her biological father
Despite her many achievements, Ahtisa's personal journey includes a chapter of unanswered questions—she has never met her biological father. Though she has grown up surrounded by love and support from her family, she has openly acknowledged this absence in her life.
"I still haven't met my biological father. We speak occasionally but we don't have a relationship," she said during the MUPh 2025 close-door interview, adding that it affected her growing up.
"It affected me growing up not knowing my self-worth or it always has affected my self-worth. I feel like I was not enough or I was the reason that he left or he didn't come back. Up until now, there are still moments where I feel like it affects me, but now that I'm an adult and I've worked on, how I feel, it's much better now."
On becoming MUPh
Ahtisa's crowning marks not just a return but a redefinition of who she is as a woman, a leader, and a Filipina with purpose.
"I started my pageant journey at 10 years old, to put myself in school, to help my family, and I feel like, If I become a Miss Universe, it would be a great culmination of my 17-year pageantry journey," she said.
She added, "It would be a good representation of going for your dreams. It doesn't matter what other people say, na 'paulit-ulit ka na', and it will show everyone that as long as you work hard for your dreams and persevere, it doesn't matter where you come from. It doesn't matter if you're poor; you can become Miss Universe.
