Two Miss Universe legends stepped up to Ahtisa Manaloโs corner on pageant night, showering the Filipina contender with praise after her impressive finish in Bangkok. Catriona Gray, ever the fierce mentor-figure in the pageant arena, took to Instagram to declare her pride, saying Ahtisa โleft her heart on that stageโโa nod to the emotional, high-impact performance that had Filipino fans roaring across the globe. Pia Wurtzbach chimed in with her own heartfelt message, saluting Ahtisaโs grit and perseverance while reminding herโand the worldโthat this moment is only the start of something bigger.
Ahtisa ended the night as 3rd runner-up, joining an elite circle in a pageant dominated by heavyweights: Mexicoโs Fatima Bosch claimed the crown, with Thailand, Venezuela, and Cรดte dโIvoire rounding out the Top 5. Despite the tightly contested field, Ahtisa held her own, delivering confident, grounded answers during both Q&A rounds. She spoke candidly about rising from poverty through determination and using her platform to champion youth empowermentโparticularly through her work with Alon Akademie.
The show may be over, but the support from Filipino icons ensures Ahtisaโs spotlight is only getting brighter. With two Miss Universe titlists in her corner and a fanbase energized by her performance, the rising queen leaves the 2025 competition not just with a placementโbut with momentum.
Images from piajauncey, catriona_gray IG