If there’s one part of Miss Universe that really sets the stage for finale night, it’s the prelims; even though they happen quietly a day or two before the main event. No glitter cannons. No screaming audience. Just scores, nerves, and some serious runway vibes. It seems like everyone only talks about the final night, but honestly? The Top 30 is basically shaped in these early rounds.
And this year’s theme, “The Power of Love,” gives the whole thing a warm, fuzzy energy. According to the Miss Universe website, the theme is meant to “honor love as a force that empowers, breaks barriers, and inspires positive change across the world” by “bringing together 130 nations in a shared vision of compassion, inclusivity, and strength.” Yup, that’s some big energy.
Prelims: Where the Real Work Happens
The prelims are the quiet but crucial part of the competition. Scores from these rounds decide who makes the Top 30; the group we’ll see announced when the live show starts.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Closed-door interview: Off-camera, but where personality, advocacy, and communication really shine. It’s not flashy, but it matters.
- Swimsuit and evening gown: The iconic runway moments fans do get to see. Judges look for confidence, stage presence, and a little “wow, she owns this stage” energy.
- National Costume Parade: Pure celebration, zero points. Culture, creativity, and self-expression on full display.
Once the Top 30 is announced tonight, all previous scores disappear. Everyone starts fresh. Clean slate. Equal footing. Basically, anything can happen.
The 2025 Miss Universe Evening Gown Preliminaries
According to Miss Universe’s Instagram, several ladies stole the show in evening gowns this year.
The evening gown front-runners are:
- Tangia Methila, Bangladesh
- Ahtisa Manalo, Philippines
- Yanina Gómez, Paraguay
- Ceren Arslan, Turkey
- Melissa Sapini, Haiti
- Fátima Bosch, Mexico
- Inna Moll, Chile
- Olivia Yacé, Côte d’Ivoire
Looks as though the gown game is strong this year; elegance, confidence, personality, all in one. But remember: scores reset tonight. None of these ladies are guaranteed a spot, so they’ll still have to bring it live.
The 2025 Miss Universe Swimsuit Preliminaries
So far, Miss Universe hasn’t released any official leaderboard for the swimsuit preliminary, but online fans are already buzzing.
Rumors suggest a few names are standing out:
- Olivia Yacé, Côte d’Ivoire
- Zashely Alicea, Puerto Rico
- Yamilex Hernández, MU Latina
- Manika Vishwakarma, India
- Praveenar Singh, Thailand
- Vanessa Pulgarín, Colombia
- Aldana Masset, Argentina
- Camila Vitorino, Portugal
It seems like everyone’s scrolling clips, screenshots, and social media posts, trying to guess who’s pulling ahead before the finale even kicks off. Take it with a grain of salt, of course (nothing’s official until the Top 30 is announced) but it’s always fun to speculate and watch the hype build.
Wait, There Are Other Miss Universe Categories?
Yep, you might have been asking that question if you’ve never really seen one of these competitions, but its true. Eight other awards (like “Most Beautiful People,” “Most Photogenic,” “People’s Choice,” “Best Skin”) will be determined by public vote through the Miss Universe mobile app.
And there’s a twist this year: for the first time ever, “Miss Congeniality” was decided through that same voting method. Usually, the delegates pick their own winner, but now the fans get a say.
What to Expect & How to Watch Tonight
The Top 30 will re-walk their swimsuits and gowns. Then the judges will cut to the Top 5 and finally the Top 3 for the Q&A; the moment that can make or break a crown. The contestant with the highest cumulative score from tonight’s performance will be crowned the 74th Miss Universe.
For viewers in the United States, the pageant airs live from Thailand at 8:00pm ET on Telemundo, with streaming available on Peacock. The Miss Universe YouTube channel will also share live updates and coverage throughout the night.
And, don’t forget, before the main event even gets started a yearly special on the contestants airs at 7:00pm ET, also on Telemundo
With over 100 countries, a fresh scoring slate, and a global stage in Thailand, it seems like anything can happen on finals night… and honestly, that’s half the fun.
