Ahtisa Manalo calls out pageant fans 'bullying' Miss Cosmo 2024 queen: 'When you say mean things to her, you're saying it to me'
Ahtisa Manalo called out Pinoy pageant fans who are "bullying" the newly crowned Miss Cosmo 2024 as she expressed her disappointment over how "a lot of [them] have been acting."
"I'm so disappointed with how a lot of us have been acting," she wrote on her Instagram broadcast channel, referring to this year's winner, Indonesia's Ketut Permata Juliastrid. "Quit bullying Tata. She's my friend, and when you say mean things to her, you're saying it to me."
The beauty queen also talked about a viral video that raised speculations that Juliastrid was "throwing shade" at her when she talked about "trying her best" at the pageant "even though [her] legs were hurting."
"I watched the video you all are referring to and she didn't mean in anyway it's me," she noted. "How they act is on them. How we act is on us. What we say is a direct reflection of who we are."
'Everything won't always go our way'
This came days after Manalo reminded her supporters that "everything won't always go our way" following her Top 10 finish at Miss Cosmo 2024.
"Hi loves, Let's remember that everything won't always go our way. But what defines us is how we react and act. Let's focus on the positive things! Spread love only!" she wrote.
She also asked the public to support Juliastrid during her reign. "Let's keep the spirit of women empowerment and celebrate Tata for her win!"
The beauty queen ended her Miss Cosmo 2024 journey as one of the Top 10 finalists of the tilt, where she was named as Cosmo Tea Culture Tourism Ambassador.
Prior to the finals, she won the "First Station" of the People's Choice Award because of her "beauty, grace, and intelligence," which granted her an automatic spot in the Top 10 finalists of the competition.
Manalo missed several activities before the coronation night due to a sprain, including those that involved interacting with supporters, sponsors, and other candidates.