Praveenar Singh crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2025 on her fourth try in pageant
Praveenar "Veena" Singh finally captured the Miss Universe Thailand crown after three previous attempts.
On Aug. 23 at the MGI Hall in Bangkok, the 28-year-old representing Saraburi finally bested 76 other delegates, including strong contenders Praewwanich "Praew" Ruangthong of Bangkok and Narumon "Dale" Pimpakdee of Phuket, who finished as first and second runner-up, respectively.
Veena was crowned by Miss Universe 2005 Natalie Glebova.
"Today, all eight years of hard work have come to fruition... Let's walk on the Miss Universe path together," Veena wrote in Thai, as translated by Google, on Instagram as she shared her official MUT portrait.
She was also lauded by the MUT organization, which said in an IG post that "True effort never betrays the heart that believes!"
As Veena prepares to represent her country at the upcoming Miss Universe 2025 pageant, let's take a look back at the journey that led her to this momentous occasion.
Fourth time's a charm
Born on April 16, 1996, in Chiang Mai, Veena is a naturalized Thai citizen of Indian descent. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Russian from the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Thammasat University, she first entered the Miss Universe Thailand stage in 2018. Her performance representing Chiang Mai landed her a respectable second runner-up finish, with the crown going to Bangkok's Sophida Kanchanarin.
Undeterred, Veena returned to the competition in 2020 with even greater determination. That year, she made it to the very end, ultimately finishing as first runner-up to Amanda Obdam. Her third attempt in 2023 saw her once again secure the second runner-up position.
But Veena didn't give up on the crown, as the Indian-Thai model returned to the MUT stage in 2025, now representing Saraburi.
"I do believe if I do everything with my best intention, and I put my work hard into it, and I really put all the hard work into it, I can achieve anything that I want," she said during an initial interview with Miss Universe Thailand.
Veena said in an interview with a pageant outlet that to be a Miss Universe Thailand, one needs to have "a lot of experience" to represent the country.
"I do think I am a great example of that, with my perseverance, my determination... and everything that I've been through, all the culture in Thailand, it's a melting pot that I represent, the diversity of Thailand as well," she underscored.
Veena added, "I want to show you guys that Thailand is open-minded people and an open-minded country, we are open for new tourists and everyone who comes here, and I want to do my best to represent [Thailand] for Miss Universe."
Veena will compete in Miss Universe 2025 on Nov. 21, where PH's Ahtisa Manalo will be the country's bet for this year's international stint to be held in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark will crown her successor at the end of the event.
