Ahtisa Manalo advocates for youth empowerment in Miss Universe 2025 'Beyond the Crown' video

Ahtisa Manalo championed youth empowerment and leadership development in her advocacy video for the Miss Universe “Beyond the Crown” category.

In the video, the Filipina beauty queen spoke about the importance of nurturing young leaders in a time of rapid change and uncertainty.

“Because leadership has never mattered more, and yet, it's the one thing we often forget to teach. Around the world, 31% of young people say their education doesn't prepare them for real life. Nearly one in four admit they've never learned leadership at all,” she said.

Ahtisa also highlighted how such a gap is even more real in the Philippines.

“We prepare workers, but rarely leaders. We train minds, but not always hearts. Today, more than 2.1 million young Filipinos are not in school, not employed, and not trained—not because they lack potential, but because no one showed them how to use it,” she said.

Through her partner organization, Alon Akademie, Ahtisa introduced two programs: Alon Hub and Alon on Wheels.

“Through Alon Hub, we bring young minds together to build ideas, collaborate with startups, and turn imagination into innovation. Here, they learn that failure is not the end, but it's where creativity begins. Through Alon on Wheels, we bring hands-on learning to the very heart of every community, rolling into neighborhoods where opportunity rarely arrives, so that no one is left behind,” she said.

“True leadership isn't about power. It's about purpose. It's about lifting others. And it's about believing that even one child given the right tools and faith can change the world. This is what it means to go beyond beauty, to help grow each child's potential for greatness because the future belongs to those we prepare for it and they are waiting for us to meet them there.”

Ahtisa’s “Beyond the Crown” video is up on the Miss Universe Zetrix app, where fans can vote for her entry.

She was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2025 in May.

The international pageant is happening on November 21 in Thailand.

Recently, Ahtisa revealed that Mak Tumang designed her national costume, while Val Taguba worked on her evening gown. —Carby Rose Basina/JCB, GMA Integrated News