Just hours before the inaugural Miss Cosmo 2024 coronation night at Saigon Riverside Park in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Philippine bet Maria Ahtisa Manalo is leading the hot picks and predictions among pageant experts and enthusiasts.
The 27-year-old model and entrepreneur has been trending on social media since the pre-pageant night, where she confidently sashayed down the runway during the long gown and swimsuit parades alongside 55 other delegates.
Prior to the preliminaries, Manalo won the Miss Cosmo People’s Choice Award – First Station and impressed audiences with her Dyesebel-inspired ensemble during the national costume portion of the beauty contest.
Pageant experts are considering her a strong contender for the crown, alongside representatives from Peru, Colombia, Thailand, and former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Franki Russell, who is wearing the Miss New Zealand sash.
The judging panel for the event includes notable figures such as former Miss Universe president Paula Shugart, Pham Quang Vinh, George Chien, Miss Supranational 2022 2nd Runner-up Nguyen Huynh Kim Duyen, and Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu.
The pageant will be co-hosted by Bùi Đức Bảo and Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa.
