The much-awaited “Most Beautiful Day in the Universe” unfolded at the Impact Arena as the Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo dazzled with beauty, elegance, and unwavering confidence in the 74th Miss Universe Competition.
From the energetic opening introduction to her poised walk in the evening gown segment and her powerful answers during the Q&A rounds, Ahtisa maintained a standout performance throughout the competition. She advanced consecutively to the Top 30, Top 10, and Top 5, earning praise for her composure and authenticity onstage.
During the Top 5 Q&A, Ahtisa answered the question: “As a Global Ambassador or Citizen, what will be your contribution to humanity?”
Ahtisa stated, “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.”
For the final question, “If you win the title of Miss Universe tonight, how would you use this platform to empower young girls?” Ahtisa highlighted her advocacy.
She stated, “I work with an organization called Alon Akademie where we work with young people to provide them opportunities to make them realize that it doesn’t matter what your life circumstances is, it doesn’t define where you will go. And I want to continue working with Alon Academy in a platform like Miss Universe to pursue making sure that people from low-income backgrounds are given the same opportunities like everyone else.”
Ahtisa ultimately secured 3rd Place, marking another proud moment for the Philippines in the pageant.
Full List of Winners – Miss Universe 2025:
• Miss Universe 2025: Fatima Bosch (Mexico)
• First Runner-Up: Praveenar Singh (Thailand)
• Second Runner-Up: Stephany Abasali
• Third Runner-Up: Ahtisa Manalo (Philippines)
• Fourth Runner-Up: Olivia Yacé (Côte d’Ivoire)
Beyond beauty, Ahtisa showcased confidence, passion, and strength — qualities that resonated with the Miss Universe audience and proved she is truly deserving of global admiration.