Rajasthan’s 22YO Manika Vishwakarma Crowned Miss Universe India 2025

Manika Vishwakarma, in a spectacular ceremony held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, won the crown of Miss Universe India 2025 and took her place in the limelight to represent India in the 74th Miss Universe pageant in November this year in Thailand. Rhea Singha, the former queen, handed over the prestigious crown in this highly extravagant event that promoted talent, brains and advocacy.

Who is Manika Vishwakarma?

Manika Vishwakarma, 22 year old girl, a native of Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, currently resides in Delhi, where she is in the final year of her Political Science and Economics degree. Manika is not only a beautiful woman, her path is also characterized by a great number of accomplishments and a richness of talents that spans academia, advocacy and the arts.

In an interview, Manika told about her journey: "My journey started from my hometown, Ganganagar. I came to Delhi and prepared for the competition. We need to inculcate confidence and courage in ourselves. Everyone played a big role in this. I thank all those who helped me and made me what I am today. Competition is not just a field; it is a world of its own that builds the character of a person." 

• She has been practicing modelling in Delhi before earning the Miss Universe title. 
• Trained in classical dance and a skilled painter, Manika’s artistic talents have been recognized by prestigious institutions such as the Lalit Kala Academy and the JJ School of Arts.
• Beyond the stage, she has represented India at BIMSTEC Sewocon, an initiative under the Ministry of External Affairs, showcasing her aptitude on international forums.

Why did Manika Win? 

Manika advocates to the fullest extent as demonstrated in her initiative, Neuronova which is a platform aimed at spreading awareness and redesigning the discussion related to the topic of neurodivergence, in this case ADHD. She actively advocates the perception of such conditions, as special cognitive abilities but not as disorders, and this attitude is evidence of her appeal to social change.

In the much awaited final question round, Manika left the judges and audience with a teary-eyed and clever answer to the question: “If you had to prioritize between advocating for women’s education or providing immediate economic aid to impoverished families, which would you choose and why?”

Her answer was thoughtful and touching: “I would choose women’s education because education doesn’t just change one life, it changes generations. While economic aid is important, education empowers long-term sustainable change, transforming communities and the future of the nation.” This answer earned her the crown and won the hearts of the nation.

Other Winners in the Competition

The pageant also celebrated remarkable talent across India with these runners-up:

• Tanya Sharma from Uttar Pradesh: First runner-up  
• Mehak Dhingra from Haryana: Second runner-up  
• Amishi Kaushik: Third runner-up  

Their success and style are a manifestation of the variety and potential of the young generation in India that has something to contribute.

What’s  the next  step for Manika?

Manika will now move on to participate in the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand this November, where she will pit against other contestants from other parts of the world. With her mix of sophistication, brilliance and activism, she is in a good standing to be a competent candidate.

Manika Vishwakarma is an emerging breed of well-educated socially conscious representatives as well as the blending of beauty with brains and a thirst to enact meaningful change. To the readers concerned about education, women empowerment, and youth leadership, her story is an ideal example of the role that education plays in raising confident leaders.

In her focus on the education of women, she is in tune with the current national agenda and international Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and helps many young Indians to realize the power of education to empower themselves and help build the nation.