What is Ahtisa Manalo’s game plan for Miss Universe?

June 21 ------ Ahtisa is now focused on carrying out her game plan as she continues her quest for the Miss Universe 2025 title. “My main focus is being fit. I want to give the Philippines a great fight, making sure that I’m 100 percent healthy. When you are healthy in your physical body, your mind follows,” she shared. I’m sure we will see her own the stage and sashay with her signature “pambansang manika” walk, which she described as “sweet and demure but powerful” throughout the competition.

This year’s reigning Miss Universe Philippines, Ahtisa Manalo, showed everyone what it means to stand tall amidst adversity. Ahtisa’s tenacity, grit and confidence paid off when she set her heart and mind toward the goal of winning the coveted crown. It is said that everything has its own time and season according to God’s perfect timing. It is now Ahtisa’s time to shine and reap the fruits of her hard work.

It was a long journey to get the Miss Universe Philippines crown. From her humble beginnings in Candelaria, Quezon, Ahtisa is no stranger when it comes to beauty contests. She began participating in pageants at the age of 10, in the fourth grade.

In 2018, she won the Bb. Pilipinas International and became first runner-up when she competed at Miss International 2018. She was second runner-up at Miss Universe Philippines last year and reached the Top 10 at Miss Cosmo 2024.

It was a true test of character for Ahtisa when she accidentally tripped on her gown while descending the stairs during the evening gown segment of the recent Miss Universe Philippines pageant. She gracefully recovered her composure, stood up and smiled as she walked on the stage as if nothing had happened. She even referred to the incident in the Q&A portion when asked about an event in her life when she led by example and the impact it made. “I fell a while ago on stage. And the thing with me is, whenever I fall in life, I always make sure I come back stronger,” was part of her winning answer.

What was playing in her mind at that time? She told me during her guesting on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” “I thought they were all there to witness my fall. And if it’s not enough that they saw me fall and stood up and still fought for what I wanted, then what better answer could I have given?”

Ahtisa finally got the crown this year. I asked her what she did that contributed to her success. She replied, “I made sure I wasn’t in my head. In 2024, I was overthinking everything. I had a plan a year before it even happened. Every single move, every single decision, I overthink. I planned it. This year, it was sudden that I joined. I wasn’t even supposed to be here but the opportunity came. A lot of doors opened for me. So why not take it? I was more feeling, I was more experiencing than thinking and planning.”

The beauty queen was supposed to run as councilor in Candelaria in the last local elections but withdrew her candidacy to be able to compete in the pageant.

I wish Ahtisa the best of luck on her journey to the crown. The coronation night of Miss Universe 2025 will be held on Nov. 21 in Thailand.

Source: philstar.com