Filipina beauty queen Ahtisa Manalo has shared the advocacy she will highlight when she represents the country at the Miss Universe pageant this November in Thailand.
In an interview with PeopleAsia, Manalo said she will champion Alon Academy, an organization that helps children understand that success does not follow a single path.
“As long as you know what your strengths are, what you are talented in, and what you are good at, you can pursue that,” she explained.
Manalo reflected on the weight of the platform, saying her story could inspire others.
“[Miss Universe] is such a big platform where you can influence so many people, and my hope is that if I win, people will see that a girl like me—who grew up in the province, who grew up poor—can be Miss Universe,” she said.
As for preparations, Manalo shared that she has been training for pasarela, improving her communication skills, hitting the gym, and even attending acting workshops to help manage pressure on stage.
The 74th Miss Universe pageant will take place on Nov. 21 at the Impact Challenger Hall in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
