Miss Universe 2025: India’s Manika Vishwakarma makes it to Top 30
Miss Universe 2025: India’s Manika Vishwakarma makes it to Top 30
The Miss Universe 2025 Finale is underway. And it’s a matter of pride that India”s Manika Vishwakarma is on the spotlight as India’s representative.
She is the primary focus of attention for the nation and pageant enthusiasts. She has taken center stage at the 74th Miss Universe
2025 finale in Thailand.
This year India’s Badminton Legend Saina Nehwal is on the judges’ panel for the pageant. With the countdown on, they cannot wait to find out if India bags the presitigious crown this year.
Having roots in Rajasthan’s Ganganaga, Manika is competing alongside over 100 representatives from different countries, all eyeing the coveted crown. The current Miss Universe, Victoria Kjær Theilvig from Denmark, was crowned last year on November 16, 2024, and is the first woman from the country to win the title. She will crown her successor.
Miss Universe 2025: Manika Vishwakarma stuns in ‘Tree of Enlightenment’ for National Costume Night
Notably Manika is a viewer’s favourite and she has been headlining with her looks, and her attire for the National Costume round. Her golden outfit, replete with a dramatic headgear, was “inspired by the sacred origins of Buddhism in India. This stunning costume pays homage to the moment Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya — a moment that radiated wisdom and peace across the world.”
According to Miss Universe Organisation’s statement this year’s competition is more than a celebration of beauty — It is a global gathering of culture, purpose, and connection, under the official theme, ‘The Power of Love’. During the week-long spectacle, there were planned interviews, personal stories, evening gowns, National Costume and swimwear rounds.
With more than 70 years of legacy, the Miss Universe Organization, founded in 1952, is a platform for women around the world, promoting leadership, education, social impact, diversity, and personal development among its contestants and titleholders.
However, this year’s competition has been shrouded in allegations of rigging and controversy. After Omar Harfouch, a judge and composer, announced his resignation just three days before the finale, a second Miss Universe judge, French soccer manager Claude Makélélé, has also resigned.
Miss Universe Organization on its part commented in a media statement, that Harfuch’s comments incorrectly suggested that an unauthorized or impromptu jury had been formed and that the official judges had been excluded from the selection of finalists.
The Miss Universe Organization firmly clarifies that no impromptu jury has been created, that no external group has been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists, and that all competition evaluations continue to follow the established, transparent, and supervised MUO protocols. Given Mr. Harfuch’s expressed confusion, his public mischaracterization of the program, and his stated desire not to participate, the Miss Universe Organization respectfully acknowledges his withdrawal from the official judging panel.
All procedures remain governed by the organization’s highest standards of transparency, integrity, and fairness.”
Last year, Gujarat’s Singha, who represented India at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant, did not make it into the top 12. Harnaaz Sandhu was the last and most recent winner of the title in 2021.
India has won the Miss Universe title three times: Sushmita Sen in 1994, Lara Dutta in 2000, and Harnaaz Sandhu in 2021.
News Edit KV Raman
