Manika Vishwakarma crowned Miss Universe India 2025 — and yes, Dubai had its own queen in the mix too

Manika Vishwakarma from Rajasthan has been crowned Miss Universe India 2025. The Political Science student, who juggles more talents than most of us juggle deadlines, took home the crown at a glittering ceremony in Jaipur.

Last year’s winner, Rhea Singha, passed on the title with a smile that said it all — and now Manika is set to represent India at the 74th Miss Universe in Thailand this November.

But wait, let’s not skip the supporting cast. Uttar Pradesh’s Tanya Sharma nabbed first runner-up, Mehak Dhingra from Haryana picked up second, and Amishi Kaushik landed third. A stacked line-up, but it was Manika’s night.

So, who is Manika?

She’s a small-town stunner from Sri Ganganagar who now calls Delhi home, and her résumé is basically a flex reel.

Crowned Miss Universe Rajasthan 2024, she’s also a trained classical dancer, a painter, and has been recognised by both the Lalit Kala Academy and JJ School of Arts.

And because every queen today needs a mission beyond selfies, Manika founded Neuronova — a platform flipping the script on neurodivergence. ADHD? She calls it a cognitive strength, not a flaw. That’s the kind of advocacy that makes a sash mean something more than sequins.

Enter Dubai’s Tasneem Raza — a queen in her own right

Now, here’s where it gets spicy. While she didn’t make the final cut, Dubai’s own Tasneem Raza brought her A-game to the contest and still left an impression big enough to trend. Think of her as proof that you don’t always need a crown to stand tall — sometimes just showing up in a sea of diamonds is enough to shine.

What Manika says

After the confetti settled, Manika took a beat to thank her hometown, her mentors, and basically everyone who ever cheered her on. “We need to inculcate confidence and courage in ourselves. Competition is not just a field, it is a world of its own which builds the character of a person,” she said. Translation: beauty may win crowns, but grit builds legacies.

So here we are — India has a brand-new Miss Universe contender in Manika Vishwakarma, Rajasthan can finally brag about more than forts and desert festivals, and Dubai? Well, with Tasneem Raza stepping into the spotlight, the city still proved it knows how to produce women who carry themselves like queens, crown or not.

November can’t come fast enough. Thailand, get ready.