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Ahtisa Manalo

Reyma Deveza

ABS-CBN Lifestyle

<p>MANILA -- Ahtisa Manalo candidly admitted that she believed the Miss Universe 2025 crown was within reach, recalling a pivotal moment during the final question-and-answer round when she felt the competition had narrowed down to just two contenders.</p><p>In the latest vlog of Kapamilya superstar Vice Ganda published on Sunday, Manalo said the decisive Q&amp;A round made her feel it had come down to her and Côte d’Ivoire.</p><p>&quot;Ako talaga of course I was hoping that I would win. I thought it was between me and Cote d&#x27;Ivoire during that night because I was able to hear everyone&#x27;s answe. Hindi ko man sila napanood kasi when you&#x27;re there, when you&#x27;re competing you focus on yourself, you don&#x27;t focus on other people. Pero kapag Q&amp;A na siyempre wala ka nang magagawa so makikinig ka na lang. So I thought it was between me and Cote d&#x27;Ivoire,&quot; said Manalo, who finished as third runner-up in the 74th edition of Miss Universe held in Bangkok, Thailand.</p><p>Miss Cote d&#x27;Ivoire, Olivia Yace, was fourth runner-up, while Fatima Bosch of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe.</p><p>For Vice, Manalo offered something beautiful about the Philippines at a time when the country was grappling with numerous issues.</p><p>&quot;That was my hope,&quot; Manalo replied as she agreed with Vice&#x27;s statement that she was the escape that people needed at the time.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766383010181Ahtisa.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Screen grab: YouTube/Vice Ganda</em></span></span></span></div><p>&quot;Sa dami nang sumuko at isinuko ang Pilipinas, ikaw inilaban mo pa kami at ipinananalo mo kami. Naniniwala ako na ipinanalo mo kami, nanalo tayo,&quot; Vice told the beauty queen.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766383200720Ahtisa2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Screen grab: YouTube/Vice Ganda</em></span></span></span></div><p>In the vlog, Manalo also shared her worst experience in her pageantry journey.</p><p>&quot;Alam mo ba may pageant akong sinalihan na gumuho &#x27;yung stage namin,&quot; saud Manalo, who refused to identify the pageant.</p><p>&quot;Ito &#x27;yung sa Cosmo,&quot; Vice quickly said. &quot;Hindi siya ang nagsabi, ako. Napanood namin sa news. Sa Miss Cosmo, gumuho ang stage.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero magre-rehearsals dapat kami nagwi-wait kami biglang gumuho ang stage. Na-sprain ako nagkaroon ng fluid &#x27;yung bone marrow ko or something hindi ako nakalakad. Tapos nag-wheelchair ako for a while, tapos lumaban ako ng prelims and finals na masakit &#x27;yung ankles ko as in halos hindi ako makalakad,&quot; Manalo recalled.</p><p>&quot;Kasi nagtakbuhan kami. Para siyang &#x27;Final Destination&#x27; as in bumabagsak &#x27;yung scaffoldings. As in I don&#x27;t know why no one, pero may mga pictures eh. ... Tapos sabi ng mga tao nag-iinarte daw ako,&quot; she added.</p><p>In the vlog, Manalo also admitted being in a relationship. &quot;Bago lang kami. ...Work-life balance,&quot; she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766383259461Ahtisa3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Screen grab: YouTube/Vice Ganda</em></span></span></span></div><p>Manalo also paid tribute to her mom, Elsie, who joined her in the vlog.  Manalo described her mother as her No. 1 defender,  fan and supporter.</p><p>&quot;I wouldn&#x27;t be here kung hindi sa guidance niya at pagpapalaki niya sa akin,&quot; the beauty from Quezon Province said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/pageants-beauty-queens/2025/12/4/ahtisa-manalo-on-miss-universe-results-let-s-just-move-on-with-our-lives-1206" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ahtisa Manalo on Miss Universe results: &#x27;Let&#x27;s just move on with our lives&#x27;</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/pageants-beauty-queens/2025/11/21/mexico-wins-miss-universe-2025-crown-ph-s-ahtisa-manalo-is-3rd-runner-up-1208" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mexico wins Miss Universe 2025 crown; PH&#x27;s Ahtisa Manalo is 3rd runner-up</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/pageants-beauty-queens/2025/11/21/ahtisa-manalo-happy-and-content-with-3rd-runner-up-finish-at-miss-universe-2025-1452" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ahtisa Manalo &#x27;happy and content&#x27; with 3rd runner-up finish at Miss Universe 2025</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/okCy2-ZmuDQ?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dKHm2_gXIFE?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jGLXM7J87jE?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_w1E55npK30?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rrgz1tmMKFw?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Ahtisa Manalo candidly admitted that she believed the Miss Universe 2025 crown was within reach, recalling a pivotal moment during the final question-and-answer round when she felt the competition had narrowed down to just two contenders.</p>

Ahtisa Manalo candidly admitted that she believed the Miss Universe 2025 crown was within reach, recalling a pivotal moment during the final question-and-answer round when she felt the competition had narrowed down to just two contenders.

‘I thought it was between us and Côte d’Ivoire’: Ahtisa Manalo recalls near-win at Miss Universe 2025

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‘I thought it was between us and Côte d’Ivoire’: Ahtisa Manalo recalls near-win at Miss Universe 2025

Reyma Deveza,

ABS-CBN Lifestyle

Published Dec 22, 2025 02:44 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 22, 2025 02:53 PM PHT

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