The Miss Universe 2025 vote has transformed the way fans engage with the pageant, giving viewers unprecedented power to influence the competition. For the first time in the pageant’s history, the Miss Congeniality award will be decided through public voting rather than peer voting among delegates, marking a significant shift in the 74th edition of the prestigious competition.
How to Cast Your Vote
Voting is available exclusively through the official Miss Universe app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. Fans can earn free votes by watching advertisements on the app or purchase votes directly through the platform. The mobile application, powered by Zentrix, offers a transparent voting system where every vote counts toward multiple categories.
Eight Voting Categories Open to Fans
Public voting for Miss Universe 2025 covers eight distinct categories. These include Miss Congeniality, Most Photogenic, People’s Choice, Best Skin, Best Evening Gown, Best National Costume, Beyond the Crown, and Most Beautiful People. Each category allows fans worldwide to support their favorite contestants through the app’s secure voting system.
Understanding the Voting Impact
While public votes play a crucial role in the competition, they specifically determine placement in the Top 30 semifinals. Once the Top 30 are selected, the final winner is chosen by judges based on performance in swimsuit, evening gown, and question-and-answer segments during the grand finale on November 21 at the Impact Challenger Hall in Bangkok, Thailand.
Voting Controversies Create Buzz
The People’s Choice voting period was scheduled to end on November 19, but organizers unexpectedly extended the voting window without prior notice. This sudden extension sparked controversy among fans and contestants, particularly as Philippines, Bangladesh, and other countries were leading the original results before the extension.
Historic Change to Miss Congeniality
The decision to move Miss Congeniality to public voting represents a major departure from tradition. Previously, delegates voted among themselves for the contestant who best embodied grace, friendly demeanor, and an all-around great attitude. Now, millions of fans worldwide can participate in selecting this special award winner.
Technical Challenges Frustrate Voters
Users have reported various technical issues with the voting app, including constant lagging, keyboard failures when searching for contestants, and difficulties inputting vote quantities. Despite these challenges, fans have remained dedicated to supporting their favorite delegates during the critical voting period.
Philippines Dominates Fan Voting
Ahtisa Manalo, representing the Philippines, achieved a clean sweep by ranking number one in all eight fan-vote categories, including People’s Choice and Beyond the Crown. This unprecedented performance positions her as a strong contender heading into the finale, demonstrating the passionate support from Filipino pageant fans.
Bangladesh Makes Strong Showing
Bangladesh’s Tangia Zaman Methila climbed to third place in the People’s Choice category with 192,313 votes as of Wednesday evening. She has also performed well across other categories, ranking first in Best National Costume, second in Miss Congeniality and Best Evening Gown, and third in Best Skin.
The Finale Approaches
The Miss Universe 2025 grand finale takes place on November 21, 2025, at 8:00 AM Thailand time, which translates to 8:00 PM ET on November 20 for U.S. viewers. American audiences can watch the competition on Telemundo and stream it on Peacock, while international viewers can access the free livestream on the Miss Universe YouTube channel.
Judges Make the Final Decision
Despite extensive public voting across multiple categories, the judging panel retains ultimate authority over crowning the winner. The panel includes notable figures such as Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova, Zimbabwean colonel Miniyothabo Francisca Baloyi, and Brazilian artist Romero Britto. These judges will evaluate the Top 30 contestants across traditional competition segments to determine the ultimate winner.
Scandal-Plagued Competition
The 2025 pageant has faced multiple controversies beyond voting disputes. Judge Omar Harfouch resigned three days before the event, alleging that 30 finalists were pre-selected by an impromptu jury with potential conflicts of interest. The Miss Universe Organization denied these allegations while acknowledging his departure. French football manager Claude Makélélé and Princess Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie also stepped down citing personal reasons.
Theme and Presentation
Operating under the theme “The Power of Love,” the pageant will be hosted by American comedian Steve Byrne, with Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres and Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel serving as commentary hosts. Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig will crown her successor at the end of the event.
Over 120 Countries Competing
More than 120 contestants from across the globe are competing for the crown, making this one of the most diverse competitions in Miss Universe history. The 2025 edition marks the debut of Cape Verde, Mayotte, Palestine, and Rwanda at the pageant.
Download and Vote Now
With the finale happening today, time is running out for fans to make their voices heard through the Miss Universe app. Whether supporting a favorite contestant or participating in pageant history, millions of fans worldwide are engaging with the most accessible voting system ever implemented in the Miss Universe competition.
Will your favorite contestant secure a spot in the Top 30? Download the Miss Universe app and cast your votes before the grand finale crowns a new queen tonight!