Ahtisa Manalo may not have captured the crown at the 74th Miss Universe pageant, but many Filipinos still felt victorious thanks to the warm praise from Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres, who openly celebrated both the Philippines and its representative throughout the competition.
Dayanara, who shared hosting duties with Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel, frequently highlighted Ahtisa’s standout moments on stage. She expressed her delight when the Filipina contender entered the Top 30, describing it as a well-earned placement. During the swimsuit segment, she admired Ahtisa’s confidence, poise, and connection with the camera, noting how naturally she commanded attention. Her admiration continued into the evening gown round, calling Ahtisa’s performance nothing short of magical.
These heartfelt remarks further strengthened Dayanara’s long-standing bond with Filipino audiences, who have embraced her for decades and fondly regard her as an “Honorary Pinay.” Her affection for the country is rooted in her years of living in the Philippines, where she built a flourishing career after first visiting in 1994 for the 43rd Miss Universe pageant. She went on to star in films like Basta’t Kasama Kita, Hataw Na, and Type Kita, Walang Kokontra, and became one of the original hosts of the long-running ABS-CBN show ASAP. She also hosted Eezy Dancing on ABC-5 in the mid-90s.
Dayanara’s excitement grew even more when it was announced that the 75th Miss Universe will take place in Puerto Rico next year. She expressed pride over her home country hosting the prestigious event and welcomed the idea of returning as part of the program, even joking with R’Bonney Gabriel about taking her under her wing just as the Philippines once embraced her.
The Miss Universe 2025 finals were held at the Impact Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi, Thailand, where Ahtisa delivered a performance that made the Philippines proud and once again reminded the world of the enduring connection between Filipinos and Dayanara Torres.