The 74th Miss Universe pageant will take place later this year in Thailand, and the newly crowned Miss Universe India 2025, Manika Vishwakarma of Rajasthan, will be representing India in the event. Here's what we know about our latest Miss Universe India 2025!
The latest Miss Universe India 2025 winner
In the final round, Manika was asked a challenging question: Which would she prioritise—promoting women's education or helping low-income families financially? And why? She argued that empowering women through education was the best way to end generational poverty. The speaker emphasised that the power of education can impact not just individual lives but also the trajectory of entire communities, countries, and families.
"To be honest, we always speak about struggle," she told PTI shortly after her victory. “But I'd like to provide some details regarding the help I've received. Despite being from a tiny town, I have always had a loving and caring family and community. My schooling was excellent. It was influenced by my instructors. So, instead of complaining about difficulties, I should be grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way. All of you have my deepest gratitude. Your presence was crucial for this realisation.”
All you need to know about the new Miss Universe India 2025 winner
Originally from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, Manika Vishwakarma now calls Delhi home. Manika, a senior studying economics and political science, was crowned Miss Universe Rajasthan last year. Additionally, Manika created the platform Neuronova, which promotes changing the way people talk about neurodiversity. Her main point is that we should stop seeing ADHD and similar diseases as disorders and start seeing them as distinct cognitive talents. As a former representative of India's Ministry of External Affairs, Manika Vishwakarma attended the BIMSTEC Sewocon. Her many accolades include recognition from the JJ School of Arts and the Lalit Kala Academy for her performances and public speaking. She has a gift for painting and classical dancing, and she is a graduate of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
What does it mean to be Miss Universe?
If you want to live the life of your dreams and become famous, all you have to do is win the Miss Universe pageant. Sounds easy right? This is a life-altering platform is the most coveted prize in the most competitive tournament. With an estimated annual viewership of more than 500 million, the United States-run and Thailand-based organisation is one of the most-watched and popular pageants in history. The staging and awards are of the highest quality since the event, which has been going strong for 70 years, has an annual budget of US$100 million.
The most recent Miss Universe pageants have awarded US$250,000 to the winner, while the amount has fluctuated throughout the years. Along with the Miss USA winner, the current queen gets to share the organisation's penthouse in New York City for a year. Throughout the year, the Miss Universe Organisation takes care of everything, so Miss Universe doesn't have to stress about things like food, cooking, clothes, accessories, transportation, and more.
The legacy of the Miss Universe Organisation
The Miss Universe Organisation also provides the queen with a private jet, so she may traverse the globe in style. Each tour serves primarily as an opportunity to collaborate with a charity and bring attention to important causes, in addition to the usual press goals. Hotel stays, meals, and photography services are all part of the package for each trip. Over the last seventy years, there have been nine redesigns of the crown and prize. A new Mouawad crown design was introduced when the organization's contract with Mouawad Jewellery was extended after Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip acquired the company in 2022. The second-generation Mouawad crown, christened the "Mouawad Force for Good Crown," was unveiled on December 5, 2022.
Central to the new crown is a royal blue sapphire that weighs 45.14 carats; around it are 48 carats of white diamonds and 110 carats of blue sapphires. According to a press statement from premium jeweller Mouawad, its worth is over $5.75 million. The founding principles have led the Miss Universe Organisation into a new era, where the compelling and profound life experiences of each competing woman have taken centre stage. Over the years, the inspiring ideals have changed, but the principles have remained constant. Their aspirations and motives, cultural distinctions, leadership characteristics, capacity to shine and assist others shine even brighter than themselves, cultural diversity, and the way they promote compassion and empathy among others are the genuine essence and beauty of these people.