Miss Universe 2025: Highlights and Winning Moments

The Miss Universe celebrates its 74th coronation today, November 21, 2025, live in this year’s hosting country, Thailand, at Impact Challenger Hall. 

With over 120 delegates participating from around the world, these beautiful women share a collective advocacy of service, change, and purpose as they embark on their journey to the crown as the next Miss Universe, continuing the pageant’s longstanding prestige since 1952. 

Furthermore, before this most-awaited day, a preliminary competition program took place on November 19, 2025, where the candidates showcased their national costume couture, highlighting their home country’s culture and tradition, and including their initial evening gowns. 

Miss Universe Philippines 

Ahtisa Manalo in Mak Tumang, "FESTEJADA: Queen of the Philippine Festivals"

Courtesy: Ahtisa Manalo/Miss Universe Philippines

Ahtisa Manalo, from Quezon Province, has held the current title for Miss Universe Philippines since May 2, 2025. She will represent the country at the 74th Miss Universe, where she will vie for the fifth crown. 

Previously, Ahtisa also competed in the Miss Universe Philippines in the previous year, where she landed a second-runner-up placement. Notably, she is also known as the Miss International 2018’s first runner-up. 

As she is publicly vocal that her Miss Universe journey serves as her swan song in pageantry, Ahtisa Manalo hopes to give her best and last hurrah to represent the country and make the Filipinos proud. 

Top 30 Finalists 

Out of the 120 delegates from participating countries, only a quarter of them will advance to the semifinals: 

Here are the Miss Universe 2025 Top 30: 

Batch 1 

  • India
  • Guadeloupe 
  • China 
  • Thailand 
  • Dominican Republic 
  • Brazil 
  • Rwanda 
  • Cote d’Ivoire
  • Colombia 
  • Netherlands 
  • Cuba 
  • Bangladesh 
  • Japan 
  • Puerto Rico 
  • USA

Batch 2 

  • Mexico 
  • Philippines 
  • Zimbabwe 
  • Costa Rica 
  • Malta 
  • Chile 
  • Canada 
  • Miss Universe Latina 
  • Croatia 
  • Venezuela 
  • Guatemala 
  • Palestine 
  • Nicaragua 
  • France 
  • Paraguay

Courtesy: Miss Universe

Paraguay earned the last spot in the Top 30 as the People’s Choice Winner in the online voting. 

Next, the Top 30 finalists proceeded to the swimwear round, and from there, they were later split almost in half, with only the Top 12 advancing to the evening gown round. 

Here are the Miss Universe 2025 Top 12: 

Top 12 Finalists 

  • Chile 
  • Colombia 
  • Cuba 
  • Guadeloupe 
  • Mexico 
  • Puerto Rico 
  • Venezuela 
  • China 
  • Philippines 
  • Thailand 
  • Malta 
  • Cote d’Ivoire

The twelve queens owned the stage in their dazzling evening couture, but only five advanced to the Final round: Thailand, Philippines, Venezuela, Mexico, and Cote d’Ivoire

Courtesy: Miss Universe

It is the time the Top 5 finalists tested their intelligence in the question-and-answer portion. The first round allowed the candidates to pick the judge who would ask their questions. Next, they are also asked the general question for the last time. 

Before the announcement of the runner-up and the winner, the reigning Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark, took her final walk to the stage as she passed the crown to her successor. 

Then moments later, the Universe hailed its new queen! 

  • 4th Runner-up: Cote d’Ivoire 
  • 3rd Runner-up: Philippines 
  • 2nd Runner-up: Venezuela 
  • 1st Runner-up: Thailand 

Consequently, Ahtisa Manalo honorably concludes her Miss Universe journey, landing in the Top 5 and 3rd-runner-up title, the highest placement the Philippines has achieved since 2021. Nevertheless, Ahtisa Manalo made the country proud, and every effort was never wasted. Great job! 

Courtesy: Ahtisa Manalo/Miss Universe Philippines

This means that Fatima Bosch of Mexico is Miss Universe 2025, carrying over 70 years of the organization’s legacy. Congratulations! 

Courtesy: Chalinee Thirasupa/Reuters

The next Miss Universe will celebrate its diamond and 75th anniversary, scheduled to take place in the hosting country, Puerto Rico.

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