Ahtisa Manalo, Winwyn Marquez weigh in on being ‘hakot’ queens

Miss Universe Philippines 2025 Ahtisa Manalo (left) and first runner-up Winwyn Marquez displays. ARMIN P. ADINA

Pageant fans have coined the term “hakot queen” to refer to the contestants who amass most, if not all, the special awards. For the Miss Universe Philippines 2025 competition, reigning queen Ahtisa Manalo and first runner-up Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez earned this distinction.

Manalo took home eight special titles when she first joined the national pageant last year, while Marquez topped her record by one more award in the recent competition.

The two beauties sat with INQUIRER.net on the sidelines of their contract signing for a 2025 Miss Universe Philippines presenter at Manila House at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City on Friday, May 30.

“The fact that they entrusted their brand to us… or any other ‘Miss,’ it means they believe in us,” said Marquez, who received P200,000 for her special title.

Manalo explained, “The way a pageant works is, you are supported by organizations and brands. And it works because it’s a whole ecosystem of people working together, organizations and businesses working together.”

She said that because of this, receiving awards is a confidence booster. “When you are recognized by the same people who formed this ecosystem, you think that, ‘Oh they like me, there must be something in me that they see that is worth getting the crown,'” she surmised.

Marquez noted that even if collecting the lion’s share of awards does not guarantee one’s victory in the finals, it still makes a candidate feel good. “The brands like us. It makes us happy because they saw something good in us,” she shared.

As a brand owner herself, Manalo said it reflects an alignment between the brand’s vision and the candidate as a person. “Usually these vision and goals that they have in mind are good, grand things. So it means that if they see me as part of it, it’s a great thing in general, not just in pageants,” she said.

And because of this, Manalo said it should not be difficult for a candidate to be able to personally live up to the ideals that the brand who recognized her espouses.

Marquez agreed, and said, “we present who we really are. So I don’t think it’s difficult, and there’s no pressure because this is who we are, this is what we are presenting.”

She continued: “This is our lifestyle as well, like wellness and health. And that’s what we really want to aim, especially in my life, discipline. And if you are really into it, it’s not that hard to do.”

Manalo and Marquez had just marked the first month of their respective titles on June 2. The 2025 Miss Universe Philippines pageant concluded at the coronation show held on May 2. /edv