⭐️YOUTH POWER

In the Philippines, pageant queens are often revered as untouchable icons of perfection. To wear the sash is to survive a gauntlet harder than most international competitions, training with the discipline of an elite athlete. Ahtisa Manalo didn’t just survive this process; she thrived in it three times over, cementing her status as a powerhouse with a Top 5 finish at Miss Universe in Bangkok.

But if you strip away the sequins, the stage lights, and the roaring crowds of Thailand that carried her through the finals, you won’t find a diva. You will find a quiet observer, a dedicated gamer, and a woman who is just as happy in her pambahay (loungewear) as she is in couture.

Ahtisa Manalo is the ultimate "Cool Girl" of the pageant world—unstoppable on stage, but refreshingly grounded in real life.

THROWBACK

Ahtisa’s journey began young, entering pageants to help support her parents. Her first international competition took her to Japan for Miss International, where she finished as first runner-up—and experienced her first trip abroad. It opened her eyes to the world and everything beyond it.

Ahtisa is wearing Job Dacon

PAGEANTRY

As someone who has always been around pageants, I always say that it’s harder to become Miss Philippines than to win an international crown. Filipina pageant queens train like athletes—months of preparation, discipline, and an entire team behind them. Ahtisa Manalo didn’t just survive that process once, but three times, culminating in a Top 5 finish at Miss Universe in Bangkok last year. That alone secures her place as a household name for years to come.

Ask her about Thailand and she lights up. The people were warm, the fans were loud, and the delegates were treated like VIPs. On finals night, the crowd’s energy carried her through every step—proof that pageantry is as much about connection as it is competition.

Ahtisa is wearing Bonita Penaranda

YOUTH WAVE

Today, she channels that perspective into youth empowerment through her work with Alon Akademie, a non-profit organization, introducing children to skills like robotics, sewing, and painting. She believes intelligence comes in many forms and that some kids simply need non-traditional spaces to thrive. It’s an advocacy close to her heart—one she wishes she had access to growing up.

COOL AND COMFORT

Offstage, Ahtisa stays grounded through her close-knit circle of friends and family, who remind her that pageantry, while important, isn’t everything. She laughs when describing herself as straightforward, fun, and caring—qualities shaped by friendships she’s kept for years. While she loves glam and the camera, she’s equally happy in her pambahay, makeup-free, enjoying quiet days at home.

She’s also proudly low-key and a little nerdy. A quiet observer by nature, she used to collect books (her latest read: the Dungeon Crawler Carl LitRPG series) and unwinds with video games like Valorant and Hogwarts Legacy. The world may not always see her “kanto,” boyish side from growing up in the province—but it’s very much part of her charm.

SLAMBOOK

✨ Song on Repeat: “Moody” by maye

👠 Fashion Holy Grail: Her Sergio Rossi heels

🏠 Ultimate Comfort Fit: Pajamas + daster combo (home uniform, undefeated)

🧴 Skincare Staples: Wash face twice, Vitamin C rose oil, moisturizer, and sunscreen—non-negotiable

💄 Miss Universe Makeup Secret: Strokes Microblade Pen Perfector in Graphite, brow pen for camera-ready arches

Ahtisa is wearing Rodel Brinas

Ahtisa Manalo isn’t slowing down anytime soon. With one foot in comfy pajamas and the other in high heels, she stands right at the edge of what’s next—curious, grounded, and quietly unstoppable. The spotlight may have found her through pageantry, but make no mistake: whatever stage she chooses next, the world will be watching.

Powered by: Strokes

Creative Direction: Rxandy Capinpin

Writer: Yeoh Egwaras

Photography: Chris Cantos

Film: Ian Francisco

Videographer: Anghel Millar

Gaffer: Ed Logarta

Styling: Aj Alberto

Makeup Artist: Mickey See

Hair: Jan Jonas Lucas

Shoot Associate: Royd Loyola

Interns: Sam Bagsic/Eanna Vargas

Special thanks to: Momoi Supe/Miss Universe Philippines/Mau De Leon/Sein Gonatice

Studio: Villa Studios

Catering: Purple Wok