Doughnut updos and bombshell waves dominated the Miss Universe 2025 stage on Friday during the grand finale in Bangkok, Thailand, where 120 contestants vied for the title, and only 30 made it past the first round.
The majority of women — such as Miss Universe China, Zhao Na, and the newly-crowned Miss Universe 2025 winner, Fatima Bosch of Mexico — opted for blowouts with combed-through curls courtesy of lead hair director Juan Trejos and his team. Lina Luaces of Cuba and Jennifer Ventura of the Dominican Republic, however, moved to the beat of their own beauty, donning slicked ponytail extensions. Several contestants — such as Miss Universe Philippines, Ahtisa Manalo, and Miss Universe Côte d’Ivoire, Olivia Yacé — switched from the big blowout to a braided bun for the third stage walk.
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When it came to makeup, most contestants stuck with the same look throughout the competition, painting their lips in nude and pale pink hues and their eyes in pearly shadow thanks to Yamileth Paduani, the Miss Universe color cosmetics team lead. Indeed, Ventura went against the status quo, donning a scarlet red lip, as did Nadeen Ayoub of Palestine.
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Ahead, WWD breaks down the best beauty moments from the grand finale competition.
Fatima Bosch (Mexico)
Before being crowned Miss Universe 2025, Fatima Bosch graced the pageant stage with wide barrel curls and a rose-taupe gloss. Meanwhile, her eyes were accentuated with black shadow on her lids and under waterlines, as well as wispy lash extensions. Bosch’s eyebrows were kept full, undercut by a gold-toned shimmer that appeared as if it were wet.
Yanina Gómez (Paraguay) and Itza Castillo (Nicaragua)
Yanina Gómez of Paraguay and Itza Castillo of Nicaragua graced the Miss Universe 2025 stage in the top 30 lineup with slicked ponytails. Both Gómez and Castillo donned long, dark brown extensions protruding from the back of their heads.
Eve Gilles (France)
Miss Universe France, Eve Gilles, stood out amongst her contestants, styling a short pixie cut and dark fringe. She did, however, follow suit with the makeup trends, dressing her lips in a nude gloss. Her eyebrows were plucked thin and undercut by metallic-hued highlighter that matched her opening outfit.
Ophély Mézino (Guadeloupe)
Ophély Mézino of Guadeloupe stepped out on the Miss Universe 2025 grand finale stage with full hair and a rose taupe lip. Her eyes were dressed in a pearly shimmer with smoked-out shadow and thick black eyeliner in the shape of a cat-eye. Meanwhile, the high points of her cheeks and the tip of her nose were dotted with a touch of highlighter.
Olivia Yacé (Côte d’Ivoire)
Miss Universe Côte d’Ivoire, Olivia Yacé, kicked off the competition with brushed-through curls parted to the right of her face. Her nails were kept at a natural length and dressed in a milky pink hue. Yacé mirrored the glitz of her fashion with a light sparkle on her lids and in her inner corners.
Audrey Eckert (USA)
Miss USA, Audrey Eckert, appeared like the quintessential Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show angel with her silky waves and a soft smoky eye, comprised of rose-colored shimmer auburn shadow. Her lips were left untouched, accentuated only by a neutral liner and clear gloss. Eckert’s cheeks were lightly contoured with pops of pink blush, and her nails were painted in a square-shaped French tip.
Ahtisa Manalo (Philippines)
Miss Philippines, Ahtisa Manalo, switches from her long blowout to a braided updo on the crown of her head for the evening gown portion of the pageant. Here, her glam is updated with a bolder lip and fresh gloss. Manalo’s brown, smoky eye is prominent; the shadow dragged from the outer corners of her eyes and onto her lids.
Zhao Na (China)
Zhao Na of China set her inky black hair to the side of her face with wide curls creating movement throughout. Her cheeks were lightly flushed with a peach-toned blush, while her bottom lash line boasted a gold shimmer.