MISS Universe Philippines Ahtisa Manalo got netizens abuzz with her pink ensemble for her sendoff, drawing mixed reviews from netizens. But the country’s “pambansang manika” (national doll) shares the story behind the look.
The entrepreneur and seasoned pageant queen appeared in a bespoke Ulysses Caragayan gown showered with Swarovski crystals, showing some skin through a thigh-high slit and a peek-a-boo hole on one side. A crystal-encrusted dragon’s head perched on her left shoulder completed the look.
“I’m very excited to go to Thailand. In Thailand there is this dragon temple, it’s pink. I said it aligns with my color and where I’m going,” Manalo responded when Inquirer Entertainment asked her at the event at the Citadines Millennium Ortigas Manila in Pasig City.
“My stylist thought that it would be a nice touch to have something from Thailand here today, hence the pink dragon. But also, you know my mom is called ‘the dragon’ because she’s fiery and feisty. So this is also a representation for my mom,” she continued.
Manalo started joining pageants in school as a little girl to help support her studies. She also had three attempts at joining Miss Universe before finally scoring the national title that would take her to the internatonal contest.
Now on a quest to post the Philippines’ fifth Miss Universe victory, Manalo declared her assurance to the Filipino people: “I will fight. It doesn’t matter if I’m tired or I haven’t had sleep, I will fight. I will give you the best Ahtisa.”
And when she finally gets to the competition to fulfill her ultimate pageant dream, “all I can do is give the best fight, be happy, and be content with who I am. Because I think who I am is enough,” she said.
The Miss Universe pageant is set to hold its 74th edition in Thailand next month. (Armin P. Adina © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
