Key points
- Sri Ganganagar’s Manika Vishwakarma wins Miss Universe India 2025 in Jaipur; will represent India at the 74th Miss Universe in Thailand later this year.
- Former Miss Universe India 2024 Riya Singha hails Manika’s standout performance among 50 contestants; jury member Urvashi Rautela congratulates the winner.
- Manika, a final-year student of Political Science and Economics in Delhi, balanced academics with pageant prep; earlier won Miss Universe Rajasthan 2024.
- Manika credits mentors and self-belief, calling pageantry a platform that builds character and confidence.
- India pins hopes on reclaiming the Miss Universe crown with Manika’s preparation, poise, and advocacy.
Jaipur: Rajasthan’s daughter Manika Vishwakarma has been crowned Miss Universe India 2025 at a glittering finale in Jaipur, capping a determined journey from Sri Ganganagar to the national stage. Having shifted to Delhi to pursue modeling and pageantry, Manika combined rigorous training with her undergraduate studies and her consistency paid off. After winning Miss Universe Rajasthan in 2024, she has now clinched the national title and will carry the tricolor to the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand at the end of 2025.
In her first reaction after the win, Manika said her confidence and discipline were her biggest strengths. She thanked her mentors and supporters, adding that the pageant world is more than a contest it shapes character, resilience, and leadership. The new titleholder emphasized that her preparation focused on communication, stage presence, current affairs awareness, and a fitness-nutrition regimen designed for long-format international competitions.
What the jury and former winners said
Jury member and actor Urvashi Rautela congratulated Manika, calling the competition “intense” and the victory well-earned. She expressed confidence that Manika will bring glory to India at Miss Universe 2025. Former Miss Universe India 2024 Riya Singha also praised Manika’s performance among 50 finalists and highlighted her potential to shine on a global stage featuring contestants from 100+ countries.
Manika’s journey: From Sri Ganganagar to the national crown
- Roots and education: Originally from Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan; currently in Delhi pursuing her final year in Political Science and Economics.
- Training and prep: Balanced university coursework with pageant grooming ramp walk, interview drills, diction and media training, fitness, and community-focused advocacy planning.
- Prior title: Miss Universe Rajasthan 2024, which laid the groundwork for her national performance through regional exposure and high-pressure rounds.
What’s next for Manika
- International prep: Enhanced interview coaching, global current-affairs immersion, and refinement of advocacy focus for the Miss Universe platform.
- National duties: Media interactions, brand engagements, and social initiatives aligned with her advocacy to build resonance ahead of the global contest.
- Finale timeline: Miss Universe 2025 is scheduled in Thailand towards the end of the year; national organizations typically conduct wardrobe fittings, national costume design, and closed-door mock rounds in the months leading up to departure.
Why her win matters
- Inspiration: Manika’s story resonates with students and first-time aspirants from smaller cities, proving that consistent preparation and mentorship can bridge the gap to national recognition.
- Representation: She brings a blend of academic rigor and stage readiness—an increasingly important mix for success at international pageants focused on articulation and advocacy.
- Momentum: With growing interest in Indian pageantry, her win adds to a pipeline of talent aiming to bring the Miss Universe crown back to India.
