Miss Universe may have once been a pageant affiliated with Donald Trump, but this year it has unexpectedly become a site of feminist revolt, high-stakes intrigue and genuinely unmissable TV.
We’ve already seen the most dramatic moment since Steve Harvey crowned the wrong Miss Universe in 2015. A dispute between a host and one Miss Mexico escalated into a historic walk-out, with multiple contestants leaving the stage in protest. Then, days before the finale, New York Times have reported two judges resigned amid allegations of corruption—something that certainly never would have happened during President Donald Trump’s tenure.
Omar Harfouch revealed he had stepped down from the judging panel after learning that the top 30 finalists were chosen by an “impromptu jury” convened without the original eight members of the selection committee — including himself — present.
In a series of Instagram Stories, he claimed this “unofficial” panel was “composed of individuals with a significant potential conflict of interest due to [personal] relationships with some of the Miss Universe contestants, including the person responsible for counting the votes and managing the results, which constitutes a further conflict of interest.” He expressed “profound confusion and concern” upon discovering that a “secret vote” had been conducted before the committee had any say.
“I could not stand before the public and television cameras, pretending to legitimise a vote I never took part in. Some of the countries eliminated through this process could be at war, discriminated against, or geopolitically sensitive,” he wrote. “Viewers would assume the jury made these decisions, and I cannot bear responsibility for a process I did not participate in. Pretending otherwise would be dishonest.” We hadn’t thought of the Miss Universe voting process through a geopolitical lens, more fool us.
All that and Miss Jamaica has reportedly just taken a tumble off stage during the Evening Wear segment.
While most of us have never watched Miss Universe, all this drama has us hooked. If you’re wondering where and when to watch the Miss Universe grand finale livestream, we don’t blame you. Here’s what you need to know
When Is The Miss Universe Grand Finale In Australia?
The Miss Universe grand final will unfold at Thailand’s Impact Arena in Pak Kret on Friday, 21 November at 8:00 a.m. local time, meaning Australians can tune in at 12:00 p.m. AEDT.
Where To Watch The Miss Universe Grand Finale Livestream In Australia
Good news: you don’t need cable, VPN sorcery, or a pageant historian to watch along. The 2025 Miss Universe Grande Finale will stream live and free on Miss Universe’s official YouTube channel.
The competition will be hosted by Carlos Adyan, Danilo Carrera, Jessica Carrillo, and Jacqueline Bracamonte. In a Miss Universe first, the pageant will not be broadcast on any subscription streaming service for viewers outside the U.S. Instead, the official Miss Universe YouTube channel will livestream the entire event worldwide, ensuring no one misses out. The contest will begin with 30 semifinalists, before narrowing to a Top 10, Top 5, and Top 3, culminating in the crowning of Miss Universe 2025.
Can You Vote For Miss Universe?
If you’ve developed a sudden, passionate allegiance to Miss Mexico or Miss Australia (relatable), you can actually vote. Miss Universe offers public voting through the Miss Universe app — available on both iOS and Android.
Voting typically opens during preliminaries and continues up to the telecast, allowing fans to help determine the Semifinalists.
It’s simple:
1. Download the Miss Universe app
2 . Select your favourite contestant
3. Cast your vote
What Happened To Miss Mexico?
Earlier this month, Miss Mexico 2025, Fátima Bosch, found herself at the centre of global headlines after a Facebook livestream captured pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly berating her.
During what was meant to be a behind-the-scenes sashing ceremony, she was singled out for allegedly refusing to post sponsored content. When Bosch attempted to defend herself, he spoke over her, belittled her national director (“ If you follow the orders from your national director, you are a dumb,” Itsaragrisil said, per The Independent) and threatened removal from the competition — all on a stream that remained very much live.
Bosch stood her ground and walked out, and what looked like dozens of contestants followed her out of the room. Itsaragrisil later apologised, and Miss Universe’s president condemned the behaviour as “public aggression,” promising a safer, more respectful environment. “I would like to make it clear my great indignation toward Nawat for the public aggression he committed against Fátima Bosch, whom he humiliated, insulted, and he showed a lack of respect, in addition to the serious abuse of having called security to intimidate a defenceless woman, trying to silence and exclude her,” he wrote.
Bosch, meanwhile, is still competing, backed by a growing fanbase who now see her as something of a feminist heroine in a tiara.
Ruby Feneley
Sign up for our newsletter
Want 15% off at Adore Beauty? Sign up to the latest news at ELLE.
By joining, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
About your privacy
Are Media Pty Limited collects your personal information through this site to process registrations, send out newsletters, communicate offers, discounts, competitions, or surveys, and to provide you with targeted advertising based on your online activities. Our Privacy Policy contains information on how you can access or correct your personal information, which entities we may disclose your personal information to (including overseas recipients), how to opt out of targeted advertising, and how to lodge a complaint.
