From a pool of 66 candidates, Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon Province stood above the rest and claimed the Miss Universe Philippines 2025 crown on coronation night, May 2, held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
In the final Q&A, she was asked to recount an instance wherein she led by example. She alluded to giving Miss Universe Philippines another shot after finishing second runner-up in the previous year.
“... 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. And for the second time, this year, I’m here, putting everything on this stage to be Miss Universe Philippines, because this is mine and my grandmother’s shared dream, and she passed away early this year—and this is my ode to her,” she declared.
Not only did she clinch the coveted crown, Manalo also bagged awards from the preliminary competition, namely: Miss Jewelmer, Miss Mags, and Miss Zonrox Colorsafe.
Muntinlupa bet Winwyn Marquez came in second as first runner-up, followed by Yllana Aduana of Siniloan, Laguna as second runner-up.
Chelsea Fernandez of Sultan Kudarat was hailed Miss Philippines Cosmo 2025, while Taguig’s Katrina Llegado took home the Miss Philippines Supranational 2025 crown. Gabriella Carballo of Cebu City emerged as Miss Philippines Eco International.
Manalo will be embodying Filipino beauty in Miss Universe 2025, to be hosted in Bangkok, Thailand on November 21.
Back in 2017, Manalo landed the second runner-up spot in the Reyna ng Aliwan pageant. A year later, her impassioned speech on youth empowerment earned her the first runner-up title in Miss International 2018. She triumphed again in 2020, in securing the second highest title in Binibining Pilipinas-International—where she was its youngest candidate.
