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Here’s a closer look at Ahtisa Manalo’s national costume at Miss Universe 2025
Ahtisa Manalo was a total stunner at the national costume competition of the Miss Universe 2025.
Designed by Mak Tumang, the Filipina beauty queen channeled Philippine fiestas in her flesh-colored Filipiniana top, with a wide bright colored skirt. She also wore a green and gold headpiece and gold jewelry with colorful beads.
On Instagram, Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) shared a closer look at Ahtisa’s costume which is called “Festejada: The Queen of Philippine Festivals.”
According to the post, Ahtisa’s Filipiniana top, which is made of handcrafted piña, features two embroidery motifs: abanico (fan) and palay (rice).
“This fabric alone is a testament to Filipino ingenuity and heritage, a treasure admired for its rarity, luster, and cultural significance,” it wrote in the caption.
Meanwhile, her skirt is adorned with hand-cut, die-cut, and more than 65,000 heat-pressed petals. Mak Tumang also said that Ahtisa's national costume took three months to create with the help of 15 people.
“Together, these elements transform the skirt into a vibrant homage to the festivals of the Philippines, with every layer radiating joy, color, and celebration,” the MUPH said.
The skirt also features three distinct tiers inspired by the key elements of the Kapampangan parol: the Tambur, Siku-Siku, and Palimbun, each echoing the artistry and brilliance of these iconic lanterns.
The pattern, on the other hand, draws inspiration from the Giant Lantern Festival of Pampanga. Its kaleidoscope of star motifs symbolizes light, hope, and unity—hallmarks of the world’s longest Christmas season.
Its vibrant colors take inspiration from the Pahiyas Festival of Lucban, honoring the harvest through radiant hues of green, yellow, orange, pink, and red—shades that evoke abundance and thanksgiving.
The Panagbenga Festival of Baguio further enriches the design, lending floral texture and flourish to the skirt, echoing the blooms that embellish its iconic floats.
Crowning the ensemble is a peineta adorned with tambourine and filigree-inspired gold accents, mirroring the opulence of traditional Philippine jewelry and the enduring heritage of local goldsmithing.
MUPH said that Ahtisa “embodies the splendor of the nation's grand celebrations - the festival queens who dazzle with beauty, grace, and cultural pride.”
“Her costume is a living canvas of Filipino artistry and tradition. The camisa with its bell-shaped sleeves, saya or skirt, and the modest pañuelo draped across her shoulders honor the timeless silhouette of the traje de mestiza, a garment deeply rooted in Philippine identity,” it wrote.
The silhouette of her ensemble recalls Maria Clara from Jose Rizal's novel "Noli Me Tangere," who was the symbol of the ideal Filipina during the Spanish colonial era.
"During the Spanish colonial era, María Clara became the symbol of the ideal Filipina - virtuous, modest, and dignified, and her name would forever be linked to the traje de mestiza, later evolving into today's terno, the national dress of the Philippines,” it said.
Ahtisa was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2025 in May. She is vying for the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe crown.
The coronation event is happening on November 21 at the Impact Muong Thong Thani Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
—Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA Integrated News
