MANILA, Philippines — As tensions slowly die down in Thailand, the 74th Miss Universe pre-pageant activities are now in full swing.
The Philippines' representative Ahtisa Manalo is nearing a week in our Southeast Asian neighbor, interacting with over a hundred fellow beauty queens as they all vie to succeed titleholder Victoria Kjaer Theilvig,
Ahtisa recently posted on her social media platforms her advocacy video for the pageant's Beyond the Crown competition, a post later shared by Miss Universe Philippines.
"Leadership has never matter more, and yet it's the one thing we often forget to teach," Athisa said in the video.
The beauty queen cited 2020 data from the United Nations Children's Fund and Pricewaterhouse Coopers that 31% of young people globally say education doesn't prepare them for real life and nearly one in four individuals admit not learning leadership skills.
Athisa pointed out that the gap hits harder in the Philippines, where workers are prepared more than leaders and minds are trained more than hearts.
"More than 2.1 million young Filipinos are not in school, not employed, and not trained," Ahtisa continued. "Not because they lack potential but because no one showed them how to use it."
Intercut through the video are Ahtisa's experiences with Alon Akadamie, a non-governmental organization that re-imagines education and enables equity for young people.
"True leadership isn't about power, it's about purpose, it's about lifting others, and it's about believing that even one child — given the right tools and space — can change the world... the future belongs to those who prepare for it, and they are waiting for us to lead them there," Ahtisa ended.
In the video's caption, Ahtisa called on supporters to vote for her in the "Beyond The Crown" category on the Miss Universe Zetrix app, noting that public votes make up 50% of the official score.
The Miss Universe 2025 coronation will take place on November 21 as Ahtisa aims to win the Philippines' fifth-ever title
Coincidentally, the last time the Philippines won was in 2018, when Thailand was also the host. Ahtisa's Binibining Pilipinas batchmate, Catriona Gray, was crowned Miss Universe 2018.