THE WOMAN WHO DIDN’T NEED THE CROWN: Ahtisa Manalo’s 18-Year Miss Universe Journey

Far from the sparkling gowns, glamorous photoshoots, and flashing cameras, Ahtisa Manalo’s life is not always picture-perfect. 

Before she could reach the Miss Universe stage, she waited, she wept, and she worked tirelessly for eighteen long years. And every time she felt close to the crown, it seemed to slip away— just like it did today.

Not a Barbie life

Ahtisa did not start with dreams of fame, but with the desire to help her family. At ten years old, she experienced how poverty is indeed real. That’s why she joined Little Miss Enverga in fourth grade. Not for the sash nor for the title, but for a full year of free tuition.

“I knew I had a life I wanted to live, and I wasn’t living it yet,” she told PUSH. “Sabi ko, I need to find opportunities or create opportunities to achieve the life I wanted.”

She carried burdens no child should bear. While others played outside, she found ways to help her family.

“I would sell teks, pogs, Jolens… Mag dudukal ako ng bakal sa likod ng bahay namin. Coz I wanted to make money. I knew we didn’t have that, and I wanted to provide that for us,” she shared to Boy Abunda.

Pageants became her stepping stones. She was crowned Queen of the Niyogyugan Festival in 2016. She placed 2nd runner-up in the Reyna ng Aliwan Festival in 2017. 

Each stage, sash, and crown was not just titles, but a way to support her studies, to care for her family, and to chase the dream she quietly held close.

She finished a degree in Accountancy as a scholar at Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation. And this is just the beginning.

The journey through the galaxy of pageants

Ahtisa began her national pageant journey at Binibining Pilipinas 2018 where she won the Bb. Pilipinas International crown while Catriona Gray claimed the Bb. Pilipinas Universe title. 

She then represented the Philippines at Miss International 2018 in Japan and finished as first runner-up. 

After six years, she returned to the national stage in the fifth edition of Miss Universe Philippines 2024, placing as second runner-up and earning The Miss Philippines Cosmo crown. She represented the Philippines at the inaugural Miss Cosmo 2024 in Vietnam, finishing in the Top 10 and winning the People’s Choice vote.

When the stars finally aligned

When her quest for the crown seemed to have ended, the universe indeed just works to place people where they are destined to be. And for Ahtisa, she was meant to raise the Philippine flag high in the Miss Universe stage.

It took patience, tears, and three tries. 

Last 13th of February earlier this year, she was reappointed as Miss Universe Philippines Quezon. This was a last-minute decision and a twist of fate since she was set to run as a municipal council in Candelaria. But somehow, everything aligned.

“If I’m able to book a flight for tomorrow, which is the contract signing day, it means it’s for me,” she revealed in an interview. 

During the national competition, each time she graced the stage revealed her years of experience in pageantry. Though she stumbled on her gown’s hem, just like how she does in all of her life’s setbacks, she recovered with grace and rose stronger. That night, Chelsea Manalo crowned her Miss Universe Philippines 2025.

Her light continued to shine on the international stage. During the coronation at Impact Muang Thong Thani Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, she stunned in a white two-piece for the swimsuit segment and radiated elegance in a shimmering silver gown for evening wear. 

Though she finished as third runner-up, Ahtisa is a winner because she never gave up, holding on to a shared dream with her grandmother. A dream nurtured despite the odds. A dream for all children who dream, too.

Lighting the universe with purpose

Beyond titles and competitions, Ahtisa Manalo continues to use her platform for advocacy. She focuses on youth empowerment, mental health, and education. She highlighted the challenges faced by millions of young Filipinos who are out of school, unemployed, or undertrained.

Programs such as Alon Hub and Alon on Wheels under Alon Akademie bring mentorship and entrepreneurship training directly to communities. Through these initiatives, she transforms her pageant spotlight into a beam of opportunity, inspiring the next generation to reach for their own orbits and dreams.

Just like what she said in her Beyond the Crown video, “To help each child grow their potential for greatness. Because the future belongs to those who prepare for it, and they are waiting for us to lead them there.”

From her first steps in Binibining Pilipinas to her international appearances and ongoing advocacy, Ahtisa Manalo continues to chart her course across the pageant universe. Her journey shows that true brilliance is not measured by crowns alone but by the lives she illuminates along the way— one dream at a time.