In a stunning and emotional coronation night held at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday, May 2, Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon Province was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2025, earning the right to represent the Philippines in the highly anticipated 74th Miss Universe pageant, set to take place in Thailand this November.
Ahtisa, a seasoned pageant veteran and fan favorite, emerged victorious among 65 hopefuls, capturing the hearts of both the judges and the audience with her intelligence, beauty, and unwavering advocacy. Her win marks a powerful comeback in the national pageant scene and a significant milestone under the Miss Universe Philippines organization, now on its sixth edition under the leadership of Miss Universe 2013 third runner-up Ariella Arida.
She succeeds Chelsea Manalo, Miss Universe Philippines 2024, who made history last year in Mexico as the first-ever Miss Universe Asia. Chelsea had the honor of crowning Ahtisa in a symbolic and emotional moment that celebrated sisterhood, empowerment, and the strength of the Filipina spirit.
Adding grandeur to the coronation night were reigning Miss Universe Victoria Theilvig of Denmark and the rest of the Miss Universe 2024 continental queens, who joined the celebration as special guests.
Ahtisa Manalo is no stranger to the international stage. In 2018, she was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International and finished as first runner-up in Miss International. Last year, she was named second runner-up at the MUPH 2024 pageant and went on to compete in Miss Cosmo, where she placed in the Top 10.
Her victory tonight is more than just a crown—it’s a powerful reminder of the Philippines’ reputation as a pageant powerhouse, with a legacy that includes four Miss Universe titleholders: Gloria Diaz (1969), Margie Moran (1973), Pia Wurtzbach (2015), and Catriona Gray (2018).
Top 6 Finalists:
Ahtisa Manalo – Quezon Province
Chelsea Fernandez – Sultan Kudarat
Yllana Aduana – Siniloan, Laguna
Winwyn Marquez – Muntinlupa
Katrina Llegado – Taguig
Gabriella Carballo – Cebu City
With her experience, elegance, and passion, Ahtisa Manalo is poised to carry the Philippine flag with pride on the Miss Universe 2025 stage. Pageant fans across the country are now rallying behind her as she prepares for another chance at bringing home the fifth Miss Universe crown for the Philippines.
