Maria Ahtisa Manalo was named Miss Universe Philippines 2025. On May 2, 2025, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. Representing Quezon Province, she triumphed among 66 contestants in the sixth edition of the pageant, known as the “Puksaan” edition, which highlighted fierce competition.During the Evening Gown segment of the contest, Ahtisa experienced a minor mishap but quickly recovered. In the Q&A session, she shared, "Whenever I fall in life, I always make sure I come back stronger," a statement that struck a chord with both the judges and the audience. She dedicated her win to her late grandmother, calling it “our shared dream".

Her pageant journey includes being crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2018 and securing first runner-up in the Miss International 2018 competition. In 2024, she finished in third place at Miss Universe Philippines and entered the top ten at Miss Cosmo.Born on May 25, 1997, in Candelaria, Quezon, Ahtisa has Filipino, Spanish, and Finnish-Swedish ancestry. She began her pageant career at the age of ten and used her winnings to aid her education and support her family. Ahtisa holds a degree in accounting from the Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation.In addition to pageantry, Ahtisa is a businesswoman in the food and beverage sector, having opened cafés in Australia and helped expand food businesses both locally and globally. She is also a strong advocate for gender equality and LGBTQIA+ rights, citing her personal connections to the community.

Ahtisa Manalo is set to represent the Philippines at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant on November 21, 2025, in Thailand. She has expressed her commitment to giving the Philippines “the best fight ever” as she getsreadyfor the global stage.

Get in touch