Ahtisa Manalo. Image: Belg Belgica via Instagram/@pattyyap
Praise continued to pour in for beauty queen Ahtisa Manalo despite her loss in the pioneer staging of the Miss Cosmo pageant, which itself has been called out for being “disorganized.”
On Instagram on Sunday, October 6, fashion stylist Patty Yap said Manalo stood out despite the Vietnam-based pageant’s many lapses, disorderly event flow, and “rigid” results. Throughout the pageant, Yap said the Philippine bet remained positive.
“Ahtisa not only broke boundaries but also set a new standard for what it means to be a true queen. Her resilience and poise have left us all in awe, and I have no doubt that she has the potential to take home the crown,” she said.
“However, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the questionable panel of judges, the disorganized event, and the rigid results that have left many of us scratching our heads. Despite these challenges, Ahtisa has remained a beacon of positivity, accepting everything with a smile. It’s a testament to her character and spirit,” continued Yap.
Yap also wondered if the recent Miss Cosmo 2024 is a reminder to “rethink the criteria” in beauty pageants.
“Is it time for us to rethink the criteria for judging these competitions? Are we truly valuing the qualities that make a queen? Let’s support Ahtisa and bring attention to the need for transparency and fairness in pageants,” she wrote.
Despite Manalo’s loss, the stylist said she’s grateful for the opportunity to have worked with the Quezon-based beauty queen who represented the Philippines with “grace and strength.”
“I am beyond grateful to have worked with the incredible Ahtisa Manalo during her journey in Miss Cosmo 2024. Despite facing a challenging ankle injury, she showcased unmatched professionalism and determination, representing the Philippines with grace and strength,” she said.
Manalo ended her Miss Cosmo 2024 stint at the Top 10 and brought home two special awards. She seemingly took the loss in stride, as she reminded her followers to “keep the spirit of women empowerment” alive.
Ketut Permata Juliastrid of Indonesia was crowned the first winner of the Vietnam-based pageant, held at the Saigon Riverside Park in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam last October 5.
While a lot of viewers appreciated the fast-paced pageant, there was much ado about the evening gown parade of the eliminated delegates, giving them more screen time compared to other pageants that focus on the winners. They also questioned how come Manalo was eliminated early despite her magnificent performance in the swimsuit and evening gown competitions.
When the winners came down to the two last candidates for the final round of competition, an innovation of sorts was implemented, with the two candidates engaging in the Final 2 debate, which some Filipino observers were similar to the “Beklaban” segment of the “Miss Q&A” contest in the daily noontime variety show “It’s Showtime.”