Frontrunner sa upcoming Miss Universe Philippines 2024 pageant si Ahtisa Manalo.
Maituturing na pageant veteran si Ahtisa na nagsimulang sumali sa pageant noong nasa Grade IV pa lamang siya.
Siya ang itinanghal na Bb. Pilipinas-International noong 2018.
Hinirang siyang Miss International 2018 first runner-up.
Ka-batch niya sa Binibining Pilipinas si Catrional Gray na kinoronahang Miss Universe 2018.
Read: Ahtisa Manalo at Alexie Mae Brooks, early frontrunners sa Miss Universe Philippines 2024
Rebelasyon ni Ahtisa, hinangad niya ang Miss Universe-Philippines crown noong 2018, pero hindi siya pinalad.
“During the Binibining Pilipinas [2018], I really wanted the Miss Universe [PH] crown, but then it was not given to me,” lahad niya sa interview ni ABS-CBN News repoter Dyan Castillejo.
“But I was very happy with what I got and I thought then that I wouldn’t have the chance to do it na.
“But now, I’m given the chance again to pursue that dream, so I’m doing it.”
Appointed ng Quezon Province si Ahtisa bilang kanilang official candidate sa national pageant.
WHY AHTISA BACKED OUT IN 2020
Nag-submit ng application para sa Miss Universe Philippines si Ahtisa noong 2020, pero nag-back out siya.
Read: Jocelyn Cubales, 69, target maging kauna-unahang senior citizen Miss Universe candidate
Matapos ang pinag-usapan niyang pag-back out sa Miss Universe Philippines 2020, naglabas ng official statement si Ahtisa via social media noong February 1, 2020.
Health reason ang ibinigay niyang dahilan.
Bahagi ng post niya noon: “I honestly don't think I can manage to physically perform the duties of a candidate as this surely involves physically draining tasks."
Dagdag pa nito, "For now, I am gonna work on getting back to my 100% and continue hoping to step on the Miss Universe stage one day."
Read: Ahtisa Manalo withdraws from Miss Universe Philippines 2020 pageant
Sa kanyang recent interview nitong weekend, inamin ni Ahtisa na hindi talaga siya handa noong panahong iyon.
Pag-amin niya, “I don’t think I was ready then. I felt like I had a lot of growing to do.
“It felt like it was only two years after Binibining Pilipinas, and I didn’t think I had anything new to offer to the pageant scene.
“I think, when I joined Binibining Pilipinas back in 2018, I was very young. I was 20, I did feel like I wasn’t able to utilize the platform to express its full potential."
Makalipas ang anim na taon, pakiramdam daw ni Ahtisa ay handa na siya.
“And I feel like at 26, after much life experiences, and I feel like I’ve grown a lot, and I feel like, now, I have the ability to utilize the platform very well.
“I think I’m a lot stronger now. I think I can handle a lot more things in a better way.
“I also feel being an entrepreneur has helped me in being able to utilize my skills. And, moreover, being able to see the potential that the Miss Universe Philippines platform has.”
Sa anim na taon daw na iyon, itinuon ni Ahtisa ang atensiyon sa kanyang startup food-and-beverage business.
“We employ around a thousand people now. I started it with two other partners from like, there was nothing, and then now, we have almost a thousand employees.”
Inusisa si Ahtisa kung ano ang mahalagang aral na natutunan niya sa mga nakalipas na taon.
“I think it’s really just showing up. I used to be such a perfectionist that I think that I can only show up when I’m perfect, then that’s the only time that it would matter.
“But I realized throughout the years that I should just show up even if I’m not at my 100 percent.
“If I just show up, there is progress, and progress is such a big thing.”
Wala pang nakatakdang schedule para sa Miss Universe Philippines 2024, pero inaasahan itong mangyayari sa darating na Marso o Mayo.