Ahtisa Manalo’s bold move has sparked a wave of discussion and intrigue. In a surprising turn of events, she has declined the prestigious Miss Universe Asia title, leaving many questioning the integrity of the pageant.
The recent Miss Universe 2025 pageant has been shrouded in controversy, with allegations of rigging casting a shadow over the results. Manalo, a strong contender and third-place finisher, has decided to distance herself from the organization, opting instead to focus on her domestic responsibilities as Miss Universe Philippines and her business ventures.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Manalo’s decision has been met with an outpouring of support from netizens. They applaud her for recognizing the controversy surrounding the pageant and for prioritizing her commitments to her country.
“She knows her worth, and this is a wise decision,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Even though she didn’t win the crown, she’s still a winner in our eyes.”
And this is the part most people miss: Thailand’s representative, Praveenar Singh, also rejected the Miss Universe Asia title. Her team demanded full transparency, requesting an audit of the judges’ votes. However, the Miss Universe Organization denied this request, citing a nondisclosure agreement.
The controversy surrounding the pageant’s results has sparked heated debates. Many question the placement of Mexico’s Fatima Bosch as the winner and Thailand’s Singh as the first runner-up. Some even go as far as to say that the pageant was rigged, pointing to the Q&A rounds where Miss Universe Philippines and Miss Universe Côte d’Ivoire gave more impressive answers.
“How did Mexico and Thailand end up in the top two when they were the weakest in the Q&A rounds?” one netizen asked. Another commented, “The Philippines and Côte d’Ivoire were robbed!”
The controversy has even led to the resignation of a judge, Omar Harfouch, who has since provided evidence suggesting the pageant was indeed rigged. In an interview, he even went as far as to call Miss Mexico a ‘fake winner.’
So, what do you think? Is there truth to the rigging allegations? Should the Miss Universe Organization address these concerns? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!