Ahtisa Manalo Reflects On Her Evening Gown Fall—And Proves She's Owning Her Pageant Comeback

Pageants are all about advocacy, passion, and a strong performance. It's definitely not a walk in the park. One of the most crucial parts of any competition is the pasarela walk, a.k.a. the signature strut that helps candidates put their best foot forward across all segments, from the swimsuit round to the evening gown showcase.

But sometimes, things don't always go as planned. During the evening gown segment of Miss Universe Philippines 2025, Ahtisa Manalo of Quezon Province tripped while walking down the runway.

And during the first Q&A segment of the pageant, she reflected on the fall, proving that she is indeed a force that cannot be stopped!

"Whenever I fall in life, I always make sure I come back stronger. Last year, I was here on this stage, and the thing with me is whenever I fall in life, I always make sure I come back stronger," Ahtisa shared during the Top 6 Q&A.

"Last year, I was here on this stage and for the second time this year, I'm here putting everything on this stage to be Miss Universe Philippines because this is mine and my grandmother's shared dream and she passed away early this year and this is my ode to her," she added.

And what a comeback it was. Congratulations, Ahtisa—the Miss Universe Philippines 2025! *confetti emoji*