Discover the latest updates, contestants, and events leading up to Miss Universe 2025. Join us in celebrating beauty, culture, and empowerment worldwide.
Here’s a look at the latest updates on the Miss Universe 2025 contestants and the current buzz around the pageant:
Miss Universe 2025: What’s New with the Contestants
1. Winner and Top Placements
- Fátima Bosch of Mexico won the Miss Universe 2025 crown. (Business Insider)
- The top 5 finalists included:
- First Runner-up: Miss Thailand, Praveenar Singh (Hindustan Times)
- Second Runner-up: Miss Venezuela, Stephany Abasali (Hindustan Times)
- Third Runner-up: Miss Philippines, Ahtisa Manalo (Hindustan Times)
- Fourth Runner-up: Miss Côte d’Ivoire, Olivia Yacé (Hindustan Times)
2. India’s Representative: Manika Vishwakarma
- Manika Vishwakarma was crowned Miss Universe India 2025, and she represented India in Bangkok. (The Hans India)
- Her background: She’s from Rajasthan (Sri Ganganagar), studying Political Science & Economics, and is also a classical dancer and founder of Neuronova, a platform advocating for neurodivergent strengths. (mint)
- In the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, she made it to the Top 30 but was eliminated after the swimsuit round, not advancing to the Top 12. (Moneycontrol)
3. Historic Representation: Palestine
- For the first time, Palestine is participating in Miss Universe. (The Economic Times)
- Nadeen Ayoub, 27, is the inaugural Miss Universe Palestine. Through her participation, she aims to represent Palestinian resilience and culture on a global platform. (The Economic Times)
4. Breaking Barriers: Trans Representation
- Nguyễn Hương Giang, a singer and reality TV star from Vietnam, is making history as the first transgender woman to represent Vietnam in Miss Universe. (Them)
- Her journey is being celebrated as a symbol of inclusion, perseverance, and identity in the beauty pageant world. (Them)
5. Middle East Spotlight
- Mariam Mohamed represents the UAE at Miss Universe 2025. She is a fashion student from Dubai and hopes to be a voice for ambitious women in her country. (The National)
- Along with Nadeen Ayoub from Palestine, her participation highlights the growing diversity of contestants from the Middle East. (The National)
6. Controversies and Walkouts
- One major controversy: A Miss Universe executive, Nawat Itsaragrisil, publicly insulted Fátima Bosch (Miss Mexico) during a live event, calling her “dumb.” (EW.com)
- In response, many contestants walked out of the event in solidarity. (EW.com)
- The fallout: Itsaragrisil was dismissed from his role in the 2025 pageant events. (EW.com)
- Additionally, judge Omar Harfouch resigned, claiming that a “secret committee” preselected the Top 30 contestants. (New York Post)
- The Miss Universe Organization denied any wrongdoing, calling the claims “mischaracterizations” and maintaining that procedures were transparent. (New York Post)
Why These Updates Matter
- Representation & Milestones: The participation of Nadeen Ayoub (Palestine) and Nguyễn Hương Giang (Vietnam) underscores how Miss Universe continues to evolve in terms of global inclusion and diversity.
- Organizational Challenges: The walkouts and judge controversies highlight serious concerns about pageant governance, transparency, and respect.
- Impact of Public Platforms: These events show the power of digital media and social activism — contestants are not just competing in beauty; they’re influencing conversations about equality, dignity, and leadership.
