Bangkok, November 21: The 74th Miss Universe pageant has entered its final stage as five outstanding contestants from Thailand, Philippines, Venezuela, Mexico, and Côte d’Ivoire advance to compete for the prestigious crown at Impact Challenger Hall in Bangkok, Thailand.
Meet the Top 5 Finalists
Thailand’s representative, Praveenar “Veena” Singh, 28, has captured the spotlight as the host nation’s hope. Born in Chiang Mai to Indian parents, Singh made history by winning Miss Universe Thailand 2025 on her fourth attempt after three runner-up finishes. She is the first married and divorced woman to hold the national title. Her stunning national costume, “Suwannaraksa: Guardian Giant of Suvarnabhumi,” showcased Thai cultural heritage and received tremendous applause. With home advantage and years of pageant experience, Singh is among the top favorites.
The Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo, 28, brings an inspiring journey of perseverance. Starting her pageant career at age 10 to earn school tuition, she has competed in 18 pageants over 18 years. The Philippines, with four Miss Universe titles, is a pageant powerhouse, and millions are watching Manalo attempt to secure the nation’s fifth crown. Her batchmate Catriona Gray won in 2018, adding emotional weight to her candidacy.
Venezuela’s Stephany Abasali, 25, enters as the bookmakers’ favorite. The model and TV host represents a nation with seven Miss Universe crowns, second only to the United States. Pageant experts describe her as “the one to beat,” praising her polished performances, eloquent interviews, and commanding stage presence. If victorious, she would deliver Venezuela’s eighth title.
Mexico’s Fátima Bosch has shown remarkable resilience after facing controversy during the competition. She was publicly criticized by Thai pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil, sparking international backlash and even drawing support from Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum. Despite the adversity, Bosch’s strong performances earned her a Top 5 spot, making her a potential upset winner.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Olivia Yacé, 27, makes history as only the third Ivorian to compete at Miss Universe. The accomplished model and Tourism Ambassador previously finished as second runner-up at Miss World 2022 and won the Miss World Africa title. With degrees from American universities and fluency in French and English, Yacé represents Africa’s strongest hope for a maiden Miss Universe crown.
The winner will receive the “Lumière de l’Infini” crown, handcrafted with 23 South Sea golden pearls, and will be crowned by Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig. India’s Manika Vishwakarma was eliminated after reaching the Top 30. The coronation ceremony is being broadcast globally, with the winner to be announced following the final question-and-answer round.
Also Read | Manika Vishwakarma Misses Out on Top 12 Spot at Miss Universe 2025; India Eliminated
