Ahtisa Manalo

Maria Ahtisa Manalo (born May 27, 1997) is a Filipino model, beauty pageant titleholder, and businesswoman who was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2018. She represented the Philippines at Miss International 2018 and finished as first runner-up.^[1]

Ahtisa Manalo
Born	Maria Ahtisa Manalo (1997-05-27) May 27, 1997 (age 26) Candelaria, Quezon, Philippines
Education	Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation (B.Acy)
Occupations	Model businesswoman
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title	Binibining Pilipinas International 2018
Major competition(s)	Binibining Pilipinas 2018 (Winner – Binibining Pilipinas International 2018) Miss International 2018 (1st Runner-Up)

Early life and education

Manalo was born on May 27, 1997 in Candelaria, Quezon, Philippines, to a Filipino-Spanish mother and an estranged Fenno-Swedish father.^[2] She attended the Manuel S. Enverga University and graduated with a degree in accountancy.^[3]

Pageantry

Binibining Pilipinas 2018

Main article: Binibining Pilipinas 2018

Manalo competed at Binibining Pilipinas 2018, held on March 18, 2023 at the Araneta Coliseum. While not viewed as a frontrunner throughout the run-up to the pageant, she garnered media attention after her performance at the pageant's press presentation, to which Rappler noted was "her peak".^[4] During the final question and answer round, she was asked: "How should a beauty queen respond to ruthless criticism?" Manalo responded:^[5]

"A beauty queen should always respond to criticism constructively. We beauty queens are public figures, and we put ourselves in the position to be judged. But nonetheless, we should always.. we should always filter which... which comments we should accept and what we should not."

At the end of the pageant, Manalo was crowned Binibining Pilipinas International 2018 by outgoing titleholder Maria Angelica de Leon.^[6][7] At age 20, Manalo was the youngest winner that edition.^[8]

Miss International 2018

Main article: Miss International 2018

Winning the title of Binibining Pilipinas International 2018 made Manalo the country's delegate to the Miss International 2018 pageant, held at the Tokyo Dome City Hall on November 9, 2018. In the run-up to the competition, Manalo was identified as a favorite to win the contest from her performance during the pre-pageant activities.^[9]

At the coronation night, Manalo competed with a gown by Filipino designer Michael Cinco.^[10] During the Top 8 final speech, Manalo emphasized her eagerness to lead despite her youth, and vowed to continue being "the voice of the youth in showing that nothing is impossible with hard work and determination".^[11][12]

At the end of the event, Manalo finished as first runner-up to Mariem Velazco of Venezuela.^[13]

Later activities

At the end of her reign as Binibining Pilipinas International, Manalo crowned Bea Magtanong as her successor at the Binibining Pilipinas 2019 pageant.^[14]

Following her finish at the Miss International pageant, Manalo has been identified as a strong potential candidate for future national pageants.^[15] On January 31, 2020, she filed her application for the Miss Universe Philippines 2020 pageant,^[16] however, she would shortly withdraw the application due to medical issues.^[17][18] Her withdrawal prompted accusations of her staging a publicity stunt, though, she has clarified that she filed the application as late as possible as she was unsure of her decision to compete.^[19]

Personal life

In an interview with the Philippine Entertainment Portal on August 17, 2019, following her reign as Binibining Pilipinas International, Manalo stated that she has been running two cafés in Australia—Cafe Noun and Call Me Harris—and started to establish a food company in Manila.^[20] On January 13, 2022, Manalo revealed that she has been in a relationship with model Marco Suarez.^[21][22]

Manalo is an LGBTQ advocate.^[23]

References

1. "PH's Ahtisa Manalo is 1st runner-up in Miss International 2018". Rappler.com. November 9, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
2. Vergara, Alex Y. "Ahtisa Manalo: Dutiful & beautiful". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
3. Mwendwa, Winfred (March 3, 2020). "Ahtisa Manalo profile: Bio, family, age, boyfriend". Kami.com.ph. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
4. "Get to know Bb Pilipinas International 2018 Ma. Ahtisa Manalo". RAPPLER. March 21, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
5. Santos, Jamil (March 27, 2018). "What Bb. Pilipinas-International Ahtisa Manalo learned from her Q&A 'stutter'". GMA News Online. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
6. "Catriona Gray crowned Miss Universe-PH to lead all winners in Bb. Pilipinas 2018 pageant". Interaksyon. March 19, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
7. "FULL LIST: Winners, Binibining Pilipinas 2018". Rappler. March 18, 2018. from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
8. Villano, Alexa (March 21, 2018). "Get to know Bb Pilipinas International 2018 Ma. Ahtisa Manalo". RAPPLER. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
9. Afinidad-Bernardo, Deni Rose M. (November 4, 2018). "Philippines almost wins Miss International 2018". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
10. "WATCH: Miss International PHL 2018 Ahtisa Manalo wows in gorgeous Michael Cinco gown". GMA News Online. November 9, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
11. "Ahtisa Manalo delivers Miss International 2018 speech". ABS-CBN News. November 9, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
12. "Ahtisa Manalo finishes first runner-up in Miss International 2018". news.abs-cbn.com. November 10, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
13. "Venezuela's Mariem Claret Velazco Garcia wins Miss International 2018". RAPPLER. November 9, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
14. "Gazini Christiana Ganados is crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2019". RAPPLER. June 9, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
15. Bracamonte, Earl D. C. "LIST: Filipina queens who could bring back The Philippines to Miss Universe Top 16". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
16. "Ahtisa Manalo withdraws Miss Universe Philippines bid". RAPPLER. February 2, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
17. Severo, Jan Milo. "Miss International 2018 1st runner-up Ahtisa Manalo backs out from Miss Universe Philippines 2020". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
18. "Ahtisa Manalo backs out of Miss Universe Philippines race". ABS-CBN News. February 3, 2020.
19. "Ahtisa Manalo cries foul over 'publicity stunt' accusations". ABS-CBN News. February 3, 2020.
20. "Beauty queen Ahtisa Manalo chooses food business over luxury items". PEP.ph. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
21. Bernardino, Stephanie (January 13, 2022). "INSTAGRAM OFFICIAL? Ahtisa Manalo introduces 'BF'". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
22. Acar, Aedrianne. "LOOK: Netizens think Ahtisa Manalo's BF is 'prettier' than she is". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
23. Acar, Aedrianne. "#PanaloSiManalo: What you should know about Miss International 2018 First runner-up Ahtisa Manalo". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved June 21, 2023.

Awards and achievements
Preceded by   Chanelle de Lau	Miss International (1st Runner-Up) 2018	Succeeded by   Andrea Toscano
Preceded by Maria Angelica de Leon (Las Piñas)	Binibining Pilipinas 2018	Succeeded by Bea Magtanong (Bataan)