Buns, bold lips and bombshell hair — pageantry beauty was alive and well at the 74th Miss Universe preliminary competition on Wednesday night in Bangkok, Thailand, where 120 contestants took the stage ahead of the main event on Thursday.
Fan-favorites Inna Moll of Chile and Praveenar Singh of Thailand let their lengthy hair fly free with teased roots and combed-through curls moving like waves down their shoulders. Others, such as Bereniece Dickenson of the Turks and Caicos Islands, slicked their hair away from their face, twisting it into a large doughnut bun on top of their head. And while the hair aesthetics flip-flopped from contestant to contestant, almost every woman to grace the stage did so with a prominent lip, from desert taupe to plum and cherry red.
The Miss Universe cosmetics team is led by hair director Juan Trejos and makeup artist Yamileth Paduani. Ahead, WWD breaks down the best beauty moments from the preliminary competition.
Inna Moll (Chile)
Inna Moll with blond bombshell hair.
Miss Universe Chile, Inna Moll, stepped out for the 74th annual preliminary competition with blond bombshell hair, Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show style. Her long ends were curled, combed and intertwined, while her dark roots were lightly teased and parted to the left of her face thanks to Trejos.
Moll’s makeup veered on the natural side with an even-toned base and full brows. Her lips, however, boasted a glossy taupe, while her eyes were dressed in neutral, earthy shadows.
Bereniece Dickenson (Turks and Caicos Islands)
Bereniece Dickenson with an intricate updo.
Miss Universe Turks and Caicos, Bereniece Dickenson, strutted on the stage with a doughnut-shaped updo and a subtle smoky eye. The contestant, who’s a frontrunner in Thursday night’s competition, kept her glam minimal, with the exception of black eyeliner, charcoal shadow and pearly highlighter. The iridescent hue accentuated her visage, kissing her inner corners and the tip of her nose. Dickenson’s lips were lined in a dark brown hue and finished with a clear gloss.
Fatima Bosch (Mexico)
Fatima Bosch with a garnet lip.
Fatima Bosch, Miss Universe Mexico, made her way around the color wheel, pairing her neon yellow gown with a garnet lip. The moody matte color popped against her vibrant fashion, bringing out the bubblegum-colored blush on her cheeks. Her eyes added a touch of grunge to her overall glam, with smoked-out black shadow painting a cat-eye on her lids and under her waterline.
Praveenar Singh (Thailand)
Praveenar Singh with wide waves.
Praveenar Singh, Miss Universe Thailand, solidified her star status in the preliminary competition with a a sharp cat-eye, thin brows and glittery shadow. Her inky black hair, teased up and off her forehead, was swept behind her back; the waves wide and drawn-out. Meanwhile, Singh’s lipstick, gloss and liner melted together in a rose taupe hue.
Ahtisa Manalo (Philippines)
Miss Universe Philippines, Ahtisa Manalo, with wavy hair.
Miss Universe Philippines, Ahtisa Manalo, brushed her jet-black hair behind her left shoulder on stage at the 74th annual Miss Universe preliminary competition. Her long ends fell just below her lower back, while her eyes were embellished with wispy lashes and charcoal shadow in her crease. Unlike many of the other contestants, Manalo opted for a pale nude gloss on her lips and peach-colored blush on the high points of her cheeks.
Ophély Mézino (Guadalupe)
Ophély Mézino with purple shadow.
Ophély Mézino moved to the beat of her own beauty on the Miss Universe preliminary competition stage. Silver-hued highlighter kissed her cheekbones, while a pool of purple and black cast a shadow over her eyes and cool-toned contour cut across the sides of her face. Other than brown liner along the outer edges, her lips were left untouched.
Olivia Yacé (Côte d’Ivoire)
Olivia Yacé showcases her sunny aesthetic.
Olivia Yacé, Miss Universe Côte d’Ivoire, matched the sunny aesthetic of her crystal encrusted gown with a touch of gold glitter on her lids at the preliminary competition. Her hair was brushed and slicked away from her face, spiraling at the crown of her head. Meanwhile, Yacé’s lips were coated in clear gloss.
The Miss Universe 2025 competition will be available to stream on Thursday at 7 p.m. EST on Peacock.
