The Main Reasons Why Manika Vishwakarma Might Not Have Been Listed in the Top 10

The Main Reasons Why Manika Vishwakarma Might Not Have Been Listed in the Top 10

1. Elimination After the Swimsuit Round One of the most concrete facts is that Manika was eliminated right after the swimsuit round. According to reports, she did not make the cut into the Top 12 following that segment. The jury’s decision in such pageants can heavily depend on performance in key rounds like swimwear; even a small misstep or relatively weaker presentation could cost a spot. It’s possible that, compared to other contestants, her walk, confidence, or styling in the swimsuit round did not resonate enough with the judges. 

2. Intense Competition At Miss Universe, the level of competition is extremely high: dozens of very polished, well-prepared contestants. While Manika made it into the Top 30, maintaining a spot there is already a big deal, but going deeper demands exceptional performance across all rounds. Other contestants may have outshined her in certain segments — whether in evening gown, interviews, or stage presence — giving them edge over her. 

3. Pageant Format & Judging Criteria The structure of Miss Universe could also play a role: According to the Russian Wikipedia summary of Miss Universe 2025, the format included a “preliminary competition” (costumes, swimsuit, evening gown, interview) and then narrowing down to a smaller group. Judges may place varying weights on different segments: sometimes the interview or walk matters more, sometimes the visual presentation. If her strengths were more in advocacy or interview rather than stage glamour or swimsuit, it may have impacted her ranking. 

4. Possible Strategic or Stylistic Choices Manika’s style, while very graceful and culturally rich (seen especially in her Indian outfits), may not have aligned fully with the tastes or strategy that judges favored for the Top 12 cut. Some pageant contestants choose bold, very high-impact styling to stand out; if hers was more subtle, it might have been overshadowed. Her advocacy work (she’s the founder of Neuronova, raising awareness about neurodivergent conditions) is admirable, but pageant scoring often rewards visual/presentation rounds heavily — unless interview answers are especially strong. 

5. Pressure & Pageant Politics Big international pageants sometimes involve politics, subjective judging, and alliances; while this is speculative, it’s a factor not to ignore in high-level competitions. There have been controversies reported around Miss Universe 2025 (though not necessarily tied to Manika directly). The stress of performing on the global stage could also affect even strong contestants. Representing a large country like India comes with high expectations, which might add pressure. 

6. Limited Margin for Error In pageants of this scale, the margin between advancing and being eliminated is razor-thin. Even very well-prepared contestants can be left out if others just nudge ahead slightly in key judged areas. Making the Top 30 is already an achievement; missing the next cut doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of talent or potential. 

7. Public Expectations vs Reality Fans and media often project that national winners (like Miss Universe India) will automatically go deep in Miss Universe, which raises expectations. But international pageant judging is often independent and may not always favor national winners in the way fans hope. There might have been a disconnection between popular sentiment (that she “deserved” to go further) and judges’ technical evaluation. Conclusion The main reason Manika Vishwakarma didn’t make it into the Top 10 (or Top 12) seems to be a mix of her elimination after the swimsuit round, very stiff competition, and possibly judging priorities that didn’t fully align with her strongest qualities. While she clearly impressed many with her poise, advocacy, and stage presence, international pageant success often requires excelling in very specific judged moments.