The race for the Miss Universe Philippines 2025 crown just saw a major shakeup. Top contender Ahtisa Manalo, who previously held the number one spot, suffered a surprising plunge to eighth place in the final Missosology hot picks.
The sixth and final hot picks list from Missosology, a highly influential voice in the pageant community, revealed an entirely new top five.
Turks and Caicos Islands made a massive leap from 18th place to claim the coveted number one spot, followed by Thailand, Lebanon in third, the Democratic Republic of the Congo in fourth, and Mexico in fifth place to complete the new top five.
This unexpected drop from first place, happening right before the pageant, has rattled her devoted fanbase. However, supporters are holding onto hope that her performance during the final competition will ultimately defy the recent predictions and secure the crown.
Despite the setback, the 28-year-old queen remains a strong contender, having performed exceptionally well in critical events. Ahtisa recently commanded worldwide attention with her stunning, high-energy appearance in the Miss Universe 2025 swimsuit segment.
Ahtisa was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2025 last May.
The intense race for the crown will be held on November 21 at the Impact Muang Thong Thani Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.
She previously revealed that her highly anticipated national costume was designed by Mak Tumang, while her evening gown was created by renowned designer Val Taguba.