Now here’s someone who feels like a winner no matter what the scoreboard says. Sure, she didn’t take home the Miss Universe crown—but with looks like that, you’d honestly wonder if she’s ever lost at anything.
And then there’s the name. Manalo literally translates to “to win.” So yes, Ahtisa Manalo was pretty much destined to be on the winning side from day one. Sometimes the universe just makes its favourites obvious. So let’s get to know this woman more…
Who is Ahtisa Manalo
Ahtisa Manalo is a Filipino beauty pageant standout whose résumé reads like a highlight reel. She was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2025 and went on to represent the country at Miss Universe 2025, where she finished as third runner-up—another strong showing on the global stage.
This wasn’t her first time impressing internationally either. Back in 2018, Ahtisa represented the Philippines at Miss International and placed as first runner-up. She later returned to the national spotlight at Miss Universe Philippines 2024, representing Quezon and finishing as second runner-up. That performance earned her an appointment to represent the Philippines at Miss Cosmo 2024, where she secured a spot in the top 10. Basically, wherever Ahtisa goes, she doesn’t just show up—she places.
Her Early Life
Ma. Ahtisa Manalo was born on 25 May 1997 in Candelaria, Quezon, to a Filipino-Spanish mother and a Finnish-Swedish father—an international mix that clearly worked out beautifully. She was named after her biological father, Ahti, and was raised by her grandmother, with her godfather stepping in to support her education. It truly took a village.
Before pageants entered the picture, Ahtisa had very different plans. She once dreamed of becoming a police officer and even applied to the Philippine National Police Academy—proof that discipline and determination were always part of her DNA. She later earned a degree in accountancy from Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, balancing beauty with brains and spreadsheets. Crown-worthy and career-ready.
Career Journey
Ahtisa Manalo’s pageant journey started early—and with purpose. She began joining local beauty contests at just 10 years old to help support her education, proving right away that this was never just about crowns. In 2017, she stepped onto the national stage for the first time at Reyna ng Aliwan, representing Quezon’s Niyogyugan Festival and finishing as second runner-up—a strong debut by any standard.
Her big breakthrough came on 18 March 2018 at Binibining Pilipinas, held at the Araneta Coliseum. Ahtisa made the Top 15 and ultimately earned the title of Binibining Pilipinas International 2018, becoming the youngest winner that year at just 20. That win sent her to Tokyo, where she represented the Philippines at Miss International 2018 and finished as first runner-up—cementing her status as one to watch.
Naturally, pageant fans expected her return. She applied for Miss Universe Philippines 2020 but later withdrew due to medical issues, a decision that sparked rumours she was quick to shut down by explaining she’d applied late and was still weighing her options. In 2022, she returned to the pageant world from the other side of the table, serving as a judge at Binibining Pilipinas.
In January 2024, it was announced that Ahtisa would represent Quezon Province at Miss Universe Philippines 2024. From the start, she was tipped as a heavy favourite—and she delivered. She collected eight sponsor awards during preliminaries (the most that year), advanced to the Top 5, and spoke about kindness as the most important lesson she’d learned from another woman, crediting her grandmother as her personal role model. She ultimately placed as second runner-up.
After the coronation, Ahtisa was appointed Miss Cosmo Philippines 2024. While some online critics called it a “downgrade,” she calmly explained that she chose the title herself, drawn to its startup-style vision and the idea of building something meaningful from the ground up. Very on-brand. Despite suffering a sprained ankle when the Miss Cosmo finals stage collapsed during rehearsals (because of course), she still finished in the Top 10, won the overall People’s Choice Award, and was named Miss Cosmo Tourism Ambassador.
In February 2025, Ahtisa was reappointed as Quezon’s titleholder for Miss Universe Philippines after her successor withdrew at the last minute—a surprise return she described as a “now or never” moment. She went on to represent the Philippines at Miss Universe 2025 in Thailand on 21 November 2025.
On coronation night, she advanced confidently through the Top 30, Top 12, and into the Top 5 Q&A. Asked how she would empower young girls using the Miss Universe platform, Ahtisa highlighted her work with Alon Akademie, a non-profit focused on helping young people understand that their circumstances don’t define their future. She finished the competition as third runner-up—once again proving that while the crown may vary, Ahtisa Manalo always places with purpose.
Facts and Trivia
Ahtisa Manalo isn’t just collecting crowns—she’s also running businesses. She’s actively involved in the café world, managing two spots in Australia, Cafe Noun and Call Me Harris. On top of that, she’s helped build and expand food brands like Koomi, Oh My Greek, and Zig Foods, with branches stretching from her home province of Quezon to other parts of the Philippines and even overseas. Beauty queen, but make it hospitality mogul.
In a surprise plot twist, Ahtisa filed her candidacy on 9 October 2024 to run for a seat on the Candelaria Municipal Council in 2025, running as an independent under the slate of incumbent mayor Ogie Suayan. Politics, however, took a back seat when she was reappointed as Quezon’s Miss Universe Philippines titleholder—prompting her to withdraw from the race and return to the pageant stage. Priorities.
The media often refers to Ahtisa as the pambansang manika (literally, “national doll”), thanks to her doll-like features and polished presence. Pageant analysts had been saying it for years—especially ahead of Miss International 2018—praising her beauty, charm, poise, and physique as textbook pageant perfection.
Beyond the glamour, Ahtisa is an outspoken ally of the LGBTQIA+ community and a strong advocate for gender equality. She’s also actively involved with Alon Akademie, an organisation focused on nurturing children’s global citizenship, social skills, and entrepreneurial mindset. In short: she’s not just winning titles—she’s building futures.
Ahtisa Manalo Photos
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