Miss Universe Philippines Ahtisa Manalo finished third runner-up at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant on Friday in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 28-year-old beauty queen from Quezon province achieved the country’s highest placement in three years, following Celeste Cortesi, who did not advance to the Top 16 in 2022; Michelle Dee, who finished in the Top 10 in 2023; and Chelsea Manalo, who placed in the Top 30 in 2024.
Mexico’s Fatima Bosch was crowned Miss Universe 2025.
During the final question-and-answer segment, Manalo said her contribution as a global ambassador would be to “be the hope of people.”
“I want to be the hope of people. I come from a very poor background. I started pageants at 10 years old to put myself through school and lift my family out of poverty. And if there’s anything I want to show the universe, I’m here right now. I’m standing as Miss Universe because I was able to get myself out of any situation through hard work, persistence, and fighting for what I want,” Manalo said.
Manalo wore a white gown designed by Filipino designer Val Taguba.
She is not a newcomer to the pageant industry. As Miss Universe Philippines 2024 second runner-up, Manalo also represented the country at the inaugural Miss Cosmo pageant in Vietnam, where she finished in the Top 10.
The Philippines has won four Miss Universe crowns: Gloria Diaz in 1969, Margarita Moran in 1973, Pia Wurtzbach in 2015, and Catriona Gray in 2018.
About the Author
