Fil-Arab student Aliya Rohilla crowned Miss Manila 2024

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-two-year-old headturner Aliya Rohilla of Sta. Cruz was crowned Miss Manila 2024 in a glitzy coronation night held June 22 at the Manila Metropolitan Theater.

The half-Filipino, half-Arab student and model bested 23 other candidates from the country’s capital city during the finals night hosted by 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray, 2022 Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel and Sparkle GMA artist Gabbi Garcia. It was the second time for Catriona to host Manila’s grand affair, while R’Bonney and Gabbi had their first taste of sharing the hosting chores with her.

Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and Miss Manila 2023 Gabrielle Lantzer did the honor of putting on the sash and crown, respectively, on Aliya who also received a P1 million cash prize.

In the final Q&A round, Aliya impressed the judges and the audience with her response to the question, “What is truly worthy of a woman’s time?”

The 22-year-old half-Filipino, half-Arab model with her court (from left) second runner-up Daniella Mazen Moustafa, Miss Manila Charity Xena Ramos, Miss Manila Tourism Leean Jame Santos, and first runner-up Jubilee Therese Acosta.

“Something worthy of a woman’s time would be her purpose. I think living a purposeful life means having that sort of destination to your journey in this lifetime because, without purpose, it’s like sailing a ship without an anchor,” replied Aliya who also bagged the Best in Evening Gown and Best in Swimsuit awards.

“It feels surreal because I didn’t expect to be crowned Miss Manila but I really wanted to end (up) in the Top 5,” Aliya told The STAR at a post-event dinner prepared for the candidates, staff, and guests. She was 16 when she joined beauty pageants, and the first was in her mom’s hometown of Albay.

Although she was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, Aliyah knows Manila like the back of her hand “because I have been living here for like over three years already. When I was a kid, I would spend my childhood here and every summer and Christmas, we always made sure to spend holidays here in Manila.”

Among the beautiful, historic places in Manila, Chinatown is the one place she would recommend to someone who hasn’t been to the country’s capital city.

The Sta. Cruz, Manila bet with City of Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan.

“Chinatown has a lot of different food, different cuisines both Filipino and Chinese cuisines and I think that you can never go wrong with food,” said Aliyah.

The beauty queen is currently a third-year college student at PATTS College of Aeronautics taking up BS Aircraft Maintenance Technology.

“After that, I will continue with my flying course,” she shared.

Apart from Aliya, Leean Jame Santos of Manuguit was crowned Miss Manila Tourism, while Xena Ramos of Sta. Ana was named Miss Manila Charity.

Meanwhile, Jubilee Therese Acosta of España and Daniella Mazen Moustafa of Tayuman placed first and second runners-up, respectively.

A project of City of Manila, The Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila, in cooperation with KreativeDen Entertainment, Miss Manila 2024 was part of the celebration of the 453rd Araw ng Maynila.