By Vivien Bernardino
Seven years and three attempts later, the time has finally come for Maria Ahtisa Manalo to take on the universe.
The 27-year-old model and entrepreneur won the Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) 2025 crown during the pageant’s finale at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Friday night – a dream she once shared with her late grandmother.
And she did so with her poise, determination, and resilience, despite taking a fall on stage.
True to her name, Manalo of Quezon Province defeated 65 other candidates, including fellow finalists Teresita Ssen Marquez (Muntinlupa), Yllana Marie Aduana (Siniloan, Laguna), Gabriella Mai Carballo (Cebu City), Chelsea Fernandez (Sultan Kudarat), and Maria Katrina Llegado (Taguig City).
She succeeded Chelsea Manalo of Bulacan, who was named the first-ever Miss Universe Asia in last year’s pageant in Mexico. (The two beauty queens aren’t related by blood. Their surname, Manalo, means “to win” in Filipino).
Manalo will vie for the highly coveted Miss Universe crown in Thailand this November.
The fall and rise of a beauty queen
During the question-and-answer segment, Manalo was asked about “an event in her life when she led by example and the impact it made”.
In response, she recalled her onstage fall during the evening gown segment.
“I fell a while ago on stage. The thing with me is, whenever I fall in life, I always make sure I come back stronger,” she said.
“Last year, I was here on this stage, and for the second time this year, I’m here putting everything on this stage to be Miss Universe Philippines, because this is mine and my grandmother’s shared dream, and she passed away early this year. This is my ode to her.”
For her final evening gown walk, Manalo entered the stage wearing a pink beaded gown made by Val Taguba.
But she lost her balance as she descended the stairs after her long dress got caught in her shoe.
Despite this, she rose back to her feet, smiled at the crowd, and continued her pasarela, or runway walk.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Lorde returns with fourth album ‘Virgin’ after new single
A pageant veteran
Known by her moniker “Pambansang Manika” (National Doll) among fans, Manalo started her pageant journey at only 10 years old to support her family and studies.
Since then, pageantry has become what she described as “her life’s vessel.”
She joined Binibining Pilipinas in 2018 as the youngest candidate at age 20 and finished as runner-up to eventual winner and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.
She went on to compete at the Miss International pageant in Japan the same year, where she also placed first runner-up.
Six years later, Manalo returned to the MUPH stage and finished second runner-up.
She then represented the country at the inaugural edition of the Miss Cosmo 2024 pageant in Vietnam, where she achieved a Top 10 placement.
In a February 2025 interview with ABS-CBN News, Manalo said she decided to join MUPH again since she had no big projects coming up.
She also withdrew her candidacy for municipal councillor of Candelaria, Quezon, in the May 12 midterm elections to prepare for the pageant.
Life beyond pageantry
When she’s not on a quest for crowns, Manalo can be found managing her business ventures, including her two coffee shops in Australia, Cafe Noun and Call Me Harris.
An accountant by profession, Manalo was involved in the expansion of food brands such as Koomi, Oh My Greek, Zig Foods, and Salt and Ice in the Philippines and abroad.
Manalo is also a gamer, and once said that she “spent three days finishing the game ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ to 99% completion.”
The model is a known advocate of the LGBTQ community, gender equality, and children’s education.
Manalo is working with Alon Akademie, an organisation dedicated to empowering children through holistic education.
READ NEXT: Sydney Sweeney keeps fans on their toes with jam-packed projects
Liam McLaughlan 
Simon Wilkes