The Chief Executive Officer and President of the Miss Cosmo Organization, Henry Hoang Tranvietbao, has issued a public statement addressing the controversy surrounding Ahtisa Manalo’s injury during Miss Cosmo 2024, following the latter’s recent revelations in a podcast interview.
In an Instagram story, Tranvietbao expressed support for Manalo, stressing that he “never, and will never” believe that she was dishonest about her experience.
He acknowledged that an issue occurred during stage setup and rehearsals, but clarified that “no contestant was directly harmed by the equipment or the stage itself.” However, he admitted that the situation became chaotic, forcing contestants to move quickly in high heels, which led to injuries and emotional distress among some candidates.
The Miss Cosmo CEO took full responsibility on behalf of the organization, stating: “If there is any responsibility to be taken, it is ours—the Miss Cosmo Organization.”
He added that the incident was “unfortunate” and emphasized that improvements would be made moving forward, noting that apologies had already been extended to those affected.
Manalo, who represented the Philippines in the inaugural edition of the Vietnam-based pageant, previously revealed that she suffered a sprained ankle after a stage-related incident during rehearsals, which caused her to miss several activities and later sparked online backlash.
Her statements were shared in a podcast interview with Kylie Verzosa, where she opened up about both the physical injury and the emotional toll of online criticisms.
Tranvietbao also called for unity among pageant fans, saying he hopes the issue will not divide supporters, and underscored that “every girl on that stage gave her all” and deserves respect. He concluded by reiterating that the platform should be about “growth, respect, and meaningful impact—not conflict or controversy.”
