Ahtisa Manalo has seemingly taken the results of Miss Universe 2025 in stride despite the controversies surrounding its eventual winner Fatima Bosch, as she chose to move on from the global tilt.
In a ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda’ interview on Wednesday, December 3, Manalo said that while the public will always not agree with the pageant results, things happen the way it is.
‘It happened na. There will always be things in life na hindi natin magugustuhan ang resulta. And that goes for anything, including this competition. And to me, tapos na siya. Wala na tayong magagawa. Let’s just move on with our lives,’ she said.
The beauty queen was also asked for her reaction to Bosch’s controversial victory and the claims of former Miss Universe judge Omar Harfouch, to which she said there isn’t anything she can do.
‘As an accountant, I really think that auditing is an important part of proper competitions and proper measures of something. But again, what is there for me to do?’ she said.
‘In my assessment, I’ve been in pageants for 18 years. And I know not all news are factual when it comes to pageants, and it’s hard to know ano ‘yung chismis and alin ‘yung totoo. So for me, I don’t judge based on what I hear especially if there’s no evidence to it. If I’m presented with facts, I might change my opinion. But with no facts, it is what it is,’ she continued.
Despite the many controversies surrounding this year’s iteration, Manalo said she was not disappointed with her experience since having the chance to represent the Philippines was a dream come true for her.
‘I was living my dream. I was focused on getting the goal as Miss Universe 2025 and frankly, everything else around me, I didn’t care that much in the sense na ang goal ko ay maging Miss Universe 2025 and there will always be drama wherever you go. So focused lang ako,’ she said.
Never received an offer to be Miss Universe Asia
Manalo also clarified that she never received an offer to be Miss Universe Asia, in contrast to the claims that she and Thailand’s Praveenar Singh-who happened to be the strongest Asian delegates during the coronation-were offered the title.
‘It was never offered to me in the first place. Nag-assume pa nga ako. Even before in-offer sa ‘kin, sabi ko kay Mama J [Jonas Gaffud], pag nag offer sila, ‘wag na natin tanggapin,’ she said.
‘Pero in-assume ko lang, ‘di naman in-offer sa’kin. I don’t know where the rumors started,’ she further added.
The Philippines’ own Chelsea Manalo was the first Miss Universe Asia titleholder before passing it to her successor, China’s Zhao Na.
The beauty queen also stressed that she didn’t know what the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and Miss Universe Philippines (MUPh) CEO and president Jonas Gaffud, while reaffirming her stand.
‘I don’t know what the talks were between Mama J and the organization. But on my behalf, it was never offered to me,’ she said.
Having competed in beauty pageants for 18 years, Manalo joined the Miss International 2018 and Miss Cosmo 2024 tilts before her Miss Universe journey. She previously confirmed that the global tilt will be her last.
At the time of the global pageant’s coronation, she is touted as one of the favorites to win after her strong performance at the preliminary competition.