Miss Universe 2025: USA leads with 9 titles, Venezuela follows with 7 in a history of 73 editions
The 74th edition of Miss Universo takes place this Thursday, November 21, 2025, on Impact Arena, on Pak Kret, on Tailândia. Danish Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, current holders of the 2024 title, will crown their successor during the globally broadcast event. Mais of 100 candidates from different countries compete for the sash and crown, in a contest that has promoted diversity and female empowerment since 1952.
Estados Unidos leads the historical ranking with nine victories, followed by Venezuela with seven titles. Brasil, with two achievements, participates with Maria Gabriela Lacerda, who presented a typical outfit inspired by Nossa Senhora Aparecida during the preliminaries.
The Miss Universo organization expanded recent rules to include mothers, married women and trans women, expanding inclusion. Este year marks the debut of representatives from countries such as Palestina and Arábia Saudita, reinforcing global representation.
- Top favorites include Veena Singh, from Tailândia, the host country’s first divorcée.
- Mariam Mohamed, from Emirados Árabes, is her nation’s pioneer in the competition.
- The edition has 121 participants, a record for continental diversity.
American dominance in the victory rankings
The Estados Unidos have accumulated nine titles since the creation of the contest in 1952. As achievements occurred in years such as 1954, with Miriam Stevenson, and 2022, with R’Bonney Gabriel. Esse’s performance reflects the strong preparation structure in the event’s original host country.
Venezuela comes in second place with seven crowns, including consecutive victories in 2008 and 2009. Países like Porto Rico, with five titles, and Filipinas, with four, complete the historical top 5. Essas nations invest in intensive training for their representatives.
Highlights of Latina candidates
Maria Gabriela Lacerda represents Brasil with a focus on social causes. The woman from Piauí stood out in the parade of typical costumes by incorporating elements of the national patron saint, generating positive repercussions on the networks.
Other Latinas include Mexico’s Alejandra Rodríguez, national winner in September 2025, and Venezuela’s Thalia Felizola. Colômbia sends Paulina Vega, who already won in 2014, returning to mentor new generations.
Nicarágua, 2023 champion with Sheynnis Palacios, presents a candidate with an emphasis on education. Essas representatives carry banners of regional empowerment.
- Mexico: 10 total titles, last in 2020.
- Porto Rico: Cinco victories, particularly in 2006.
- Venezuela: Sete crowns boost local beauty industry.
Brazilian trajectory in the contest
The Brasil won the title in 1963 with Ieda Maria Vargas, from Rio Grande to Sul, in Miami. In 1968, Bahia’s Martha Vasconcellos won over São Paulo, marking the second national victory. Ambas elected officials faced logistical challenges at the time, such as long international trips.
Six Brazilians have reached runner-up, including Martha Rocha in 1954 and Julia Gama in 2020. Essas placements have raised the country’s profile in global competitions. Current preparation involves posture and public speaking coaches for candidates like Lacerda.
Investment in national competitions has grown in recent years, with regional federations selecting diverse profiles. Isso reflects the evolution of the event beyond physical beauty.
Gabriela Lacerda, 24 years old, has been training for the final since March 2025. Sua platform addresses mental health, aligned with Miss Universo’s new inclusive guidelines.
Evolution of rules and inclusion
Since 2023, the contest allows mothers and married women, expanding eligibility criteria. Essa change resulted in delegates with varied backgrounds, such as health professionals and activists. The organization reports a 20% increase in global registrations after the updates.
Asian countries, like Tailândia headquarters, benefit from cultural proximity. Eventos preliminaries took place in Phuket and Pattaya, with traditional costume parades on November 19. The broadcast takes place via Telemundo and digital platforms.
The 2025 edition adopts the theme “The Power of Love”, emphasizing unity. Isso guides the candidates’ oral presentations, evaluated by international judges.
Unprecedented presence of emerging nations
Palestine debuts with Nadeen Ayoub, which addresses resilience on its platform. Arábia Saudita sends its first representative, highlighting advances in women’s rights. Moçambique and other Africans expand continental diversity.
África has six historic titles, with Sul’s Africa leading the way. Essas premieres follow rigorous national selections, including reality shows like Miss Universe Latina in the US.
The organization monitors contractual compliance, replacing candidates in isolated cases, such as in República Democrática of Congo. Isso guarantees integrity in the selection process.
Competition format in 2025
The preliminaries include swimsuit and gala shows, held on November 18. The final selects 30 semifinalists, reducing it to the top 10 and top 5. Jurados evaluates eloquence and stage presence.
Broadcast on Brasil starts at 10pm on November 20th, Brasília time. Plataformas like Peacock offer global streaming. The production expects record audiences, surpassing 2024.
Maria Gabriela Lacerda competes in the swimsuit and evening gown stages, with a focus on authenticity. Sua journey inspires followers in the country.
