Background
Location and date
On 16 November 2024, at Miss Universe 2024, pageant co-owner Raúl Rocha Cantú announced that the shortlisted host cities for the 74th edition of the pageant were in Argentina, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Morocco, India, South Africa, Spain, and Thailand. [5] [6] The Miss Universe Organization announced Thailand as the host country on 7 February 2025, designating the Impact Challenger Hall in Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, as the central venue with ancillary events scheduled for Phuket and Pattaya. This will mark the fourth time that Thailand hosted the pageant, and the third time the event will be held in the said venue after the 2005 and 2018 pageants. [7] [8]
Selection of participants
Among the delegates designated as of 13 October 2025, sixteen were appointed to the position after being runner-up in their national pageant, [a] or being chosen through a casting process, [b] while two were selected to replace an original winner.
Replacements
Déborah Djema was originally crowned Miss Universe D.R. Congo 2025, but was later dethroned after refusing to sign a mandatory contract required by the national organization. She was replaced by Dorcas Dienda. [12] [13] [14]
Sihlé Letren of Trinidad and Tobago has resigned from her title as Miss Universe Trinidad and Tobago 2025 for personal reasons. She has been succeeded by her 1st Runner-Up, Latifah Morris. [15] [16] [17]
Debuts, returns, and withdrawals
This edition will mark the debuts of Latina, Mayotte, Niger, and Palestine. [c] [22] [23] [24] [25] Additionally, this edition will feature the returns of Iraq and Slovenia in 2017; [26] [27] Sweden in 2021; [11] Ghana and Haiti in 2022; [28] and Kosovo, and Panama in 2023. [29] [30]
Sahar Biniaz of Iran withdrew from the competition, citing concern for her National Director's safety following reports of the director's detention in Iran. [31] [32]
