GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Ahtisa Manalo is a festival queen for Miss Universe National Costume competition
Ahtisa Manalo was a vision as a "festival queen" at the Miss Universe National Costume competition held on Wednesday.
The Filipina beauty queen donned a Mak Tumang piece that features a flesh-colored Filipiniana top, with a wide bright colored skirt. She also wore a green and gold headpiece, and gold jewelry with colorful beads.
According to Ahtisa's Instagram post, her costume is “a living symbol of beauty, grace, and cultural pride who dazzles not only with elegance but with the spirit of every Filipino fiesta.”
The costume was inspired by the traje de mestiza, with a camisa with its bell-shaped sleeves, intricate saya, and panuelo draped over her shoulders. The elements were inspired by Dr. Jose Rizal’s Maria Clara, “the symbol of the ideal Filipina: virtuous, modest, and dignified.”
Ahtisa’s dress was crafted from hand-embroidered piña, while the skirt is made from dyed fabric “adorned with hand-cut, die-cut, and heat-pressed petals, each meticulously sewn one by one.”
Meanwhile, the skirt is made from dyed fabric “adorned with hand-cut, die-cut, and heat-pressed petals, each meticulously sewn one by one.”
The post added that each layer is inspired by a festival, namely, the Giant Lantern Festival of Pampanga which symbolizes hope and unity, the Pahiyas Festival of Quezon which honors the colorful harvest, and the Panagbenga Festival of Baguio which focuses on flowers and is incorporated into the design.
“The Philippines is a nation of fiestas where every town and barrio bursts with rhythm, color, and devotion. This costume captures that collective heartbeat, weaving together history, tradition, and festivity into a single, radiant vision,” Ahtisa said.
“With every step, I become the living festival of the Philippines—carrying the brilliance of a thousand lanterns, the warmth of Filipino hospitality, and the timeless grace of María Clara onto the Miss Universe stage,” she added.
At the swimsuit competition held last week, Ahtisa strutted the runway with her signature confidence while donning a two-piece green swimsuit by local fashion brand Bench.
Ahtisa was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2025 in May.
The coronation night is happening on November 21 at the Impact Muong Thong Thani Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
—Nika Roque/JCB, GMA Integrated News
