Anticipation finally reaches its peak today as Miss Universe fans lock in for one of the biggest days in global pageantry.
Spirits across the Philippines have stayed high all week thanks to Ma. Ahtisa Manalo’s standout semifinals performance.
Her confident turn in the national costume portion, her graceful precision in the evening gown showcase, and her unmistakable command of the stage were certified slays, fueling excitement for what she might clinch on coronation night.
The 74th edition of Miss Universe unfolds today, November 21, 2025, at Impact Challenger Hall in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, Thailand, with 120 delegates vying for the most coveted crown in pageantry.
Carrying the Philippine sash is Ahtisa, whose journey has been watched closely by pageant fans around the world.
Here’s what PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) knows about this Quezon beauty.
Read: Ahtisa Manalo's evening gown for Miss Universe 2025 prelims
EARLY LIFE
Name, Age, Hometown
Ma. Ahtisa Manalo was born on May 25, 1997, making her 28 years old at the time of the Miss Universe 2025 coronation night.
She hails from Candelaria, Quezon, a town known for its thriving coconut industry, vibrant roadside eateries, and the warm, small-town character typical of Quezon province.
Ahtisa's family background
Her mother is of Filipino-Spanish descent, while her estranged biological father is Finnish-Swedish.
Ahtisa has openly shared that she and her father “do not have a relationship”—a reality that deeply shaped her growing-up years.
Over time, she learned how to deal with that emotional space, saying she has worked through her feelings and is in a much better place today.
She was raised primarily by her mother and grandmother, to whom she dedicated her Miss Universe Philippines journey to.
Their family lived with limited means, and her schooling was supported by her grandmother and godfather.
Ahtisa became aware of their financial reality early, prompting her to join a local pageant in fourth grade, motivated by its free tuition prize.
Read: Ahtisa Manalo warns netizens against scammer using her name
EDUCATION
Ahtisa once had an unexpected dream: to become a police officer.
A 2021 Inquirer article revealed that back in 2018, before joining Binibining Pilipinas, she had already submitted her application to the Philippine National Police Academy.
“My uncles, also my grandfather, are part of the police force. I wanted to make a difference, I wanted to explore everything that I can because I know I want to do a lot and that’s one of it,” she said at the time.
She also emphasized that she wasn’t closing her doors to the profession, admitting she had multiple ambitions: “I don’t know what I’m going to do in the future.
“I want to be a police officer, I want to have my own business, I want to go back to school again, I want to be a veterinarian.”
Ultimately, she pursued a degree in Accountancy at the Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, where she served as Supreme Student Council President.
Her love for numbers runs deep.
Even as a high school student, she was already managing the stock investments of her cousins.
CAREER
Entrepreneurship
While she never practiced accountancy professionally, Ahtisa used her academic foundation to carve her place in business.
She once told PEP she always knew she was “meant for business.”
Her LinkedIn lists her as co-founder of Visum Ventures, a food and beverage retail group launched in 2019.
She served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer until 2022, then transitioned to Chief Marketing Officer in 2023.
PEP’s August 17, 2019 exclusive, “Beauty queen Ahtisa Manalo chooses food business over luxury items,” revealed her broader ventures.
She manages two cafés in Australia — Cafe Noun and Call Me Harris — and helped develop and expand food brands like Koomi, Oh My Greek, and Zig Foods, with branches across Quezon, nationwide, and internationally.
Read: Beauty queen Ahtisa Manalo chooses food business over luxury items
Ahtisa's Pageant Journey
Ahtisa stands 5 ft 8 in (173 cm), a height that aligns with industry standards for modeling and pageantry.
Her career skyrocketed during Binibining Pilipinas 2018, where she won Bb. Pilipinas International at just 20 years old, later finishing 1st runner-up at Miss International 2018.
Rather than immediately returning to competition, she stepped back for a while.
In 2024, she joined Miss Universe Philippines, winning The Miss Philippines Cosmo title.
She went on to compete in the inaugural Miss Cosmo pageant and placed in the Top 10.
Miss Universe Philippines 2025
On February 13, 2025, Ahtisa was reappointed as Miss Universe Philippines Quezon, marking her second attempt at securing the national title.
She later revealed that the appointment was a last-minute decision, prompted by the withdrawal of her local successor.
Even so, pageant analysts immediately placed her in their shortlist of frontrunners.
During the preliminary competition, she swept four special awards from sponsors, signaling strong impressions from industry insiders.
Her national costume, a fierce interpretation of the mythical tiktik, was designed by Ehrran Montoya, and quickly became one of the most talked-about costumes of the season.
Ahtisa advanced through the competition with consistency: Top 24, then Top 12, where she delivered one of her defining moments.
During the evening gown competition, she stepped on her gown’s hem, stumbled, and recovered instantly—a moment widely praised by commentators.
Many drew comparisons to Miriam Quiambao’s iconic fall and recovery at Miss Universe 1999, framing Ahtisa’s grace under pressure as a turning point in her performance.
Upon advancing to the Top 6, she was asked to describe a time she led by example and the impact it created.
She referenced her on-stage slip, transforming it into a lesson on resilience and composure.
At the end of the night, she was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2025 by outgoing titleholder Chelsea Manalo of Bulacan.
Read: Details of Ahtisa Manalo's Miss Universe 2025 National Costume
Miss Universe 2025
Ahtisa’s Miss Universe campaign has been marked by discipline, strategic branding, and peak consistency.
Her Beyond the Crown video entry highlighted her advocacy for education and youth leadership, pointing back to her experiences as a student leader and her long-held passion for uplifting underserved communities.
During the National Costume Competition, she unveiled “Festajada: Queen of Philippine Festivals,” a radiant traje de mestiza by Mak Tumang.
The piece drew inspiration from iconic celebrations such as Pampanga’s Giant Lantern Festival and Baguio’s Panagbenga Festival, merging cultural symbolism with couture craftsmanship.
It was one of the night’s standouts, praised for both concept and execution.
For the evening gown segment, she collaborated with Val Tagluba, resulting in a silhouette that emphasized her long lines, soft facial features, and signature brand of elegance.
Fans lauded the look as one of her strongest fashion moments to date.