While Ahtisa Manalo is currently competing in Thailand for the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe victory, two of her national pageant ‘sisters’ are off to Vietnam to carry the country in different contests.
Cyrille Payumo, who competed alongside Manalo in the 2024 Miss Universe Philippines pageant, will compete in the third edition of the Miss Charm pageant next month.
Manalo’s 2025 Miss Universe Philippines batchmate Chelsea Fernandez, meanwhile, will take part in the second edition of the Miss Cosmo pageant, also next month.
Payumo finished in the Top 10 in the 2024 national pageant, with Manalo placing as second runner-up. After the show, they received The Miss Philippines-Charm and The Miss Philippines-Cosmo titles, respectively.
Miss Universe Philippines organizer Empire Philippines also holds the sister brand The Miss Philippines that manages other international pageant franchises.
Fernandez, another pageant veteran, was among the six finalists in the recent national pageant, and subsequently received The Miss Philippines-Cosmo title. Manalo took home the main prize.
Payumo and Fernandez faced members of the media at their sendoff press conference held at the Empire Studio at Estancia Mall in Pasig City on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
They were joined by Mister Pilipinas-Man of the Year Michael Angelo Toledo, who is vying for the country’s second win in the 2025 Man of the Year contest in Bali, Indonesia.
Payumo had previously brought honor to the coutry when she posted the Philippines’ fifth win in the Miss Tourism International pageant in Malaysia in 2019.
Fernandez competed in The Miss Globe pageant in Albania in 2022, where she finished in the Top 15 and brought home a crown as winner of the ‘Head-to-Head Challenge.’
Toledo himself is a pageant veteran, placing third runner-up in the inaugural edition of the Mister Fitness Supermodel World contest in Vietnam in 2023.
The 2025 Man of the Year contest in Bali will conclude on Nov. 24, while the 2025 Miss Charm pageant’s coronation will be on Dec. 13. The 2025 Miss Cosmo finale is scheduled on Dec. 20.