Athisa Manalo
Ma. Ahtisa Manalo (born May 25, 1997) is a Filipino beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2025. She represented the Philippines at Miss Universe 2025, where she was the third runner-up.
Manalo represented the Philippines at Miss International 2018, where she was the first runner-up. She later represented Quezon at Miss Universe Philippines in both 2024 and 2025. In the 2024, she was second runner-up and was subsequently appointed to represent the Philippines at Miss Cosmo 2024, where she finished in the top 10.
Quotes
[edit]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 to lift my family out of poverty. And if there's anything that 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 because I was hardworking, I was persistent, and I fight for what I want.
- Tonelada, Rachelle (November 21, 2025). "Ahtisa Manalo Is Miss Universe 2025 Third Runner-Up—Here's How She Did It". Cosmopolitan Philippines.
I fell a while ago. And whenever I fall in life, I always make sure I come back stronger. Last year, I was also here, and for the second time, I’m putting everything on this stage to be Miss Universe Philippines, because this is mine and my grandmother’s shared dream. She passed away early this year, and this is my ode to her.
- Castelo, Sean III (May 2, 2025). "How Ahtisa Manalo Became Miss Universe Philippines 2025". mega-asia.com.
The future belongs to those who prepare for it.
I saw the beauty in opening up. I’ve always been a closed-off person. Only my friends know who I am, and the people who are close to me. But I realized that there’s beauty in letting people know who you are. And in letting people know your flaws and your imperfections. And it’s such a nice feeling to be liked or to be loved for being who you are.
- Golden Girl Ahtisa Manalo Shares What She Whispered in Thailand Ahead of the Miss Universe Competition. ABS-CBN. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
I really want them to see that it doesn’t matter where you come from in life. It doesn’t matter your circumstances. You can be a poor girl from the province and yet achieve a big dream as big as Miss Universe.
- Golden Girl Ahtisa Manalo Shares What She Whispered in Thailand Ahead of the Miss Universe Competition. ABS-CBN. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
No matter how far-fetched they seem. As long as you work hard. As long as you persevere. You don’t lose sight of what you want to achieve. It’s possible.
- Golden Girl Ahtisa Manalo Shares What She Whispered in Thailand Ahead of the Miss Universe Competition. ABS-CBN. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- I'm happy and content. I did my best. That's all I can do.
- There are more things to life than pageantry,
- As a public figure, you’ll always get unsolicited advice or opinions and I’m used to it. It’s nothing new. I just hope that when people give these pieces of advice, that they remember to be kind
- I'm standing as Miss Universe, because I was able to get myself out of any situation, because I was hardworking, I was persistent, and I fight for what I want.
- I want our leaders to have self-knowledge, to understand if they can actually do the job they’re applying for because it's a position of public trust. So they got to be trusted, they got to know what they are doing, and they got to make sure that they have the capabilities to do the job that they area applying for
- Pageantry became my life’s vessel, fueled by the love and the support of those around me
