Who Won Miss Universe 2025? Meet the Newly Crowned Champion and Relive the Show-Stopping Finale

The 74th Miss Universe pageant crowns its winner this Friday, 21 November 2025, at Bangkok’s Impact Challenger Hall, and global anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. Fans are already flooding search engines with queries like “Miss Universe 2025 winner,” eager to discover who will succeed Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig as the new titleholder. When and how to watch The three-hour live broadcast starts at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT in the United States, corresponding to 8 a.m. local time in Thailand. Viewers can stream the finale on The Roku Channel in the U.S., while partner networks carry the show across Latin America, Europe and Asia. What the winner takes home Beyond the Mouawad “Power of Love” crown, valued at USD 5 million, the new Miss Universe receives a cash prize reported to exceed USD 300,000, a New York City apartment for the year, and a travel schedule that spans more than 20 countries for charity and brand-ambassador duties. Front-runners and dark horses 1. Olivia Yace, Côte d’Ivoire – The former Miss World Africa has dominated preliminary leaderboard chatter for her confident walk and fluent French-English interviews. 2. Ahtisa Manalo, Philippines – Social-media engagement around Manalo’s fiery red evening gown went viral during this week’s preliminaries, propelling her from underdog to oddsmaker favorite. 3. Manika Vishwakarma, India – A biomedical engineer and climate advocate, she drew rave reviews for a sheer couture gown that fused recycled marine plastics with hand embroidery. 4. Veena Praveenar, Thailand – Competing on home soil, she wowed judges with a national costume honoring Thailand’s Loy Krathong festival. 5. Jasmin Torres, Puerto Rico – A polished orator whose advocacy for STEM education in Spanish-speaking communities scored high in closed-door interviews. Judging panel shake-up Pageant week took a dramatic turn when two international judges resigned 48 hours before finals night, citing “scheduling conflicts,” a move that insiders believe stems from disagreement over new scoring guidelines favoring “advocacy depth” over runway performance. Organizers swiftly replaced them with past winners Dayanara Torres and R’Bonney Gabriel to maintain gender parity and regional diversity on the panel. Record-breaking contestant field This year’s edition features 120 delegates—the largest in pageant history—reflecting a recent rule change allowing married women and mothers to compete. The expanded roster introduces debut nations such as Bhutan and the Faroe Islands, adding fresh cultural flair to traditional segments. Why Bangkok matters Thailand hosts Miss Universe for the fourth time, betting on the event to boost year-end tourism by an estimated USD 180 million. Local authorities have set up fan zones along the Chao Phraya River, where spectators can watch a live satellite feed amid food festivals showcasing Thai cuisine. How the new queen is chosen Contestants’ scores from swimwear, evening gown and preliminary interviews are combined with their performance during finals night. The Top 20 will deliver 15-second “voice for change” pitches, after which eliminations proceed to a Top 10 and then a Top 5 for extended Q&A. The last two standing face the decisive “final look” before one woman is proclaimed Miss Universe 2025 winner. SEO takeaway As search interest spikes for “Miss Universe 2025 winner,” fans should bookmark official streaming links, follow @MissUniverse on social media for real-time updates, and keep an eye on leading favorites Olivia Yace and Ahtisa Manalo—either could walk away with the crown and instantly become a global household name.