Ahtisa Manalo admits she was ’embarrassed’ she comes from poor family

Miss Universe 2025 third runner-up Ahtisa Manalo recalled how she was initially “embarrassed” about her poor family background, saying it was the reason she had a hard time presenting her genuine self.

Manalo spoke about this during an interview with journalist Kara David for the latter’s “I-Listen” podcast on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

The topic was discussed after David said she was surprised upon knowing that the beauty queen did not come from a well-off family.

“The reason why maybe not a lot people know about it is [because] before, I was actually kind of embarrassed admitting that I come from a poor family,” Manalo admitted.

“Hindi ko alam if a lot of us or ako lang (I don’t know if it’s just me) [who] feel that it’s embarrassing to be in poverty, when in the first place it’s not even my fault. You’re born in that e,” she continued. “But I took it as a responsibility that I didn’t want my family to stay there.”

Manalo then entered pageantry at the age of 10 as she saw it as an avenue to earn money. She recounted how her cash prizes went straight to her savings, and how her “guardian angels” helped her whenever she competed.

Opening more about her family, Manalo disclosed that her foreigner father, with whom she has a “non-existent relationship,” has not supported her financially since she was a kid.

“Habang tumatanda ako, na-realize ko na bago ka makaalis sa hirap, kailangan mo talagang maghirap muna; kailangan mong pagtrabahuhan,” she said. “And I thought na kung walang ibang gagawa, ako na lang because I wouldn’t want my little brother and sister to have the same life I [had].”

(I realized growing up that you need to work really hard to get out of poverty. And I thought, if no one would do it, I would, because I didn’t want my little brother and sister to have the same life I had.)

Manalo also recalled an instance when one of her elementary school classmates asked if she was poor, pointing out how the beauty queen often had eggs as her packed lunch.

“Do’n ko na-realize na [hindi kami mayaman]. [I felt] kawawa naman ako but that’s the thing — I don’t want to feel kawawa so I made sure that I wouldn’t feel kawawa,” Manalo told David. “That’s why now, I like eating. That’s my reward to myself.”

(That’s when I realized that we were poor. I pitied myself but that’s the thing — I don’t want to pity myself, so I made sure that I wouldn’t be pitiful. That’s why now, I like eating. That’s my reward to myself.)

Despite the hardships she experienced, the beauty queen underscored she does not feel any resentment toward her family or the life she had.

She noted as well that she was able to overcome the feeling of “embarrassment” after she realized that it had been hindering her pageant journey.

“We were trying to figure out what is the thing — na bakit hindi ako makapag-communicate nang maayos. And it was me hiding; it was me being embarrassed of who I am,” she said.

“Gladly, we figured it out before ako lumaban ng Miss Universe Philippines 2025,” she added. “It pays that you’re comfortable with who you are, and I think it shows when you are.” /ra