TRANSCRIPT: Miss Universe 2025 Top 5 first Q&A portion
The Top Five candidates of the 74th Miss Universe competition, held Nov. 21 in Bangkok, Thailand, moved on to the highly anticipated question and answer segment.
There, they impressed the global audience by tackling timely topics such as education, equality, and cultural differences, among others. The contestants were given 30 seconds to answer questions from selected judges.
Read on to see how they fared in the Q&A segment of the coronation night.
Miss Thailand — Praveenar Singh
If you win Miss Universe and you're given the chance to speak in front of the United Nations assembly, what global issue would you talk about, and why did you choose that global issue?
If I were to speak in front of the United Nations about the SDGs, I would choose women equality, because I believe that all of us deserve respect, kindness, and same equality as other genders. And we deserve the same respect in the workplace, as well as at home, I encourage you all to speak for your voice, raise your voice for women equality.
Miss Philippines — Ahtisa Manalo
As a global ambassador or citizen, what will be your contribution to humanity?
I want to be the hope of people. I come from a very poor background. I started pageants at 10 years old to put myself through school and to lift my family out of poverty. And if there's anything that I want to show the universe, I'm here right now. I'm standing as Miss Universe because I was able to get myself out of any situation because I was hard working, I was persistent, and I fight for what I want.
Miss Venezuela — Stephany Abasali
In a world where cultural differences can separate people, how would you choose your platform to promote empathy and understanding between different cultures.
I thank God that I had been given the opportunity to live in different continents of this world, for I have a broad view of the different cultures and an understanding of how to have empathy with the people, how to communicate, and how to break those barriers of language.
I believe that this platform gives us access to every corner of the world, and it teaches us that us as women with a voice and being a role model, it is our future, the children, the elders, the people that see us, that hear us, and we depend on making a difference.
Miss Mexico — Fatima Bosch
In your perspective, what are the challenges of being a woman in the year 2025, and how would you use the title of Miss Universe to create a safe space for women around the world?
As a woman, as Miss Universe, I will put my voice and the power in the service of others, because nowadays we are here to speak up, to make change, and have everything here, because we are women, and the brave ones that stand up are the ones that will make history.
Miss Cote d'Ivoire — Olivia Yacé
Education today focuses on knowledge, but not always on emotional skills. What emotional skill do you think should be taught to every child in school, and why?
As a woman who has a foundation on education, I think it is important that we teach young girls to love themselves. That is why my slogan is, assume your identity. Because if you love yourself, if you have confidence, you can walk into this world and you can shine. So I will urge every young man and every young woman to love yourself first, be who you want to be, and shine.
Check out our full coverage of the Miss Universe 2025 competition here.
