Miss Universe 2025: What’s New with the Contestants

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:

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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)

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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.

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Also, read Kolkata Earthquake: Latest Updates and Insights

• Business Insider
• EW.com
• Them