Miss Universe Philippines says she expected to win, thought title race was between her and Côte d’Ivoire

The 2025 edition of the Miss Universe pageant has been hit by a series of controversies, with fans questioning the final result and accusing the Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) of overlooking more popular or “deserving” contenders in favour of winner Fatima Bosch, who was not widely seen as a fan favourite.

Adding fuel to the debate, Miss Universe Philippines Ahtisa Manalo shared her thoughts on the competition in a recent podcast interview with Filipino comedian and host Vice Ganda, saying she believed the title race had come down to herself and Miss Universe Côte d’Ivoire, Olivia Yace.

What Miss Universe Philippines said

In a podcast episode shared on YouTube on December 21, Ahtisa reflected on her experience at the Thailand-hosted pageant, particularly the Question-and-Answer round.

According to Philstar.com, Ahtisa told Vice Ganda, in an English translation, that she felt confident during the decisive segment of the competition.

“Of course, I was hoping that I would win. I thought it was between me and Côte d’Ivoire that night because I was able to hear everyone’s answers,” she said. “When you’re competing, you focus on yourself. But during Q&A, you can’t help but listen, and that’s when I felt it was between me and Côte d’Ivoire.”

The Olivia Yace controversy

The debate intensified weeks after the finale when comments attributed to MUO president Raul Rocha sparked backlash online. In an interview, Rocha allegedly suggested that visa restrictions could have worked against Miss Côte d’Ivoire Olivia Yace, saying the logistical and financial burden of securing visas for extensive international travel might have limited her ability to serve as Miss Universe.

According to a November 25 report by People, Rocha said, in translation: “She’s going to be the Miss Universe who spent a whole year in an apartment because of the cost of the visa process with lawyers. Some of them require six months’ notice. The year’s already gone, right?”

The remarks were widely criticised on social media, with many accusing the organisation of discrimination and reinforcing existing concerns over fairness and transparency in the selection process.

Together, the comments from contestants and officials have kept the 2025 Miss Universe outcome under intense scrutiny, prolonging debate over whether the final decision reflected performance, popularity, or external considerations beyond the stage.