Ahtisa Manalo takes final walk as Miss Universe Philippines 2025

Ahtisa Manalo took her final walk as Miss Universe Philippines 2025 during this year's national pageant held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.

The beauty queen and Sparkle artist dazzled in a beautiful red gown as she glided down the stage, waving goodbye to the audience.

In her VCR, she looked back at her 18 years in pageantry, particularly her Miss Universe journey, during which she realized that she had a responsibility bigger than herself.

"I have to be an example, and I have to serve as a symbol of something," she said.

Ahtisa also thanked everyone who was with her along the way, telling them, "Sa paulit-ulit na pagsali ko, never ko naramdaman na iniwan niyo ko."

Ahtisa brought pride to the Philippines with her third-place finish at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant held in Bangkok, Thailand in November 2025—marking a triumphant culmination of her 18-year journey in pageantry.

In 2024, Ahtisa made her return to pageantry, competing in the Miss Universe Philippines competition, where she finished as 2nd runner-up. She later went on to represent the Philippines at the Miss Cosmo 2024 pageant in Vietnam. —Jade Veronique Yap/JCB, GMA News