Ahtisa Manalo

Biography

Ma. Ahtisa Manalo (born May 25, 1997) is a Filipino beauty pageant titleholder who won 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 2024 where she was second runner-up, and was subsequently appointed to represent the Philippines at Miss Cosmo 2024, where she finished in the top 10.

== Early life and education == Ma. Ahtisa Manalo was born on May 25, 1997, in Candelaria, Quezon, to a Filipino-Spanish mother and a Finnish-Swedish father. She was named after her biological father, Ahti. She was raised by her grandmother with financial support from her godfather for her education. Manalo intended to become a police officer and applied to the Philippine National Police Academy. She has a degree in accountancy from the Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation.

== Pageantry ==

=== Early pageants === Manalo began participating in local beauty pageants at the age of 10 to help support her education. In 2017, she competed in her first national pageant, Reyna ng Aliwan, a festival-themed competition. She represented the Niyogyugan Festival of Quezon and was second runner-up.

=== Binibining Pilipinas 2018 ===

On March 18, 2018, Manalo participated in the Binibining Pilipinas 2018 pageant held at the Araneta Coliseum, where she reached the top 15. During the final question and answer portion, she was asked how a beauty queen should respond to ruthless criticism, to which she replied that public figures should address criticism mindfully and constructively. She would end her run as Binibining Pilipinas International 2018, being crowned by outgoing titleholder Maria Angelica de Leon. At 20 years old, she was the youngest winner in that edition of the pageant.

=== Miss International 2018 ===

As the winner of Binibining Pilipinas International 2018, Manalo represented the Philippines at Miss International 2018, held on November 9, 2018, at the Tokyo Dome City Hall. For the coronation night, she wore a gown designed by Filipino couturier Michael Cinco. In the Top 8 final speech, she highlighted her willingness to lead despite her young age and expressed her commitment to serving as "the voice of the youth," emphasizing that "hard work and determination can overcome obstacles." She finished as the first runner-up to Mariem Velazco of Venezuela.