Misbah Arshad has been crowned Miss Universe Pakistan, becoming the fourth Pakistani woman to represent the country at the Miss Universe pageant.
Arshad was announced as the winner at a ceremony in the Philippines following a closely contested selection process. Miss Universe Pakistan franchise owner Josh Yugen presented her with the official sash, while outgoing titleholder Roma Riaz crowned her as the new winner.
A key moment in the competition came during the final question round. Philippine musician and actor Bailey May asked Arshad which version of herself — her 10-year-old or 80-year-old self — would ask her the more difficult question.
Arshad chose her 10-year-old self, explaining that her younger self would want to know how her life had turned out. She said she would tell her that she had faced failures at different stages of life but had continued to rise and move forward.
Her response reflected a message that has shaped her approach to success: failure does not define whether someone is a winner. What matters is keeping hope alive, continuing to put in the effort and becoming better with every step.
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Arshad is a psychology student with previous international pageant experience. She represented Pakistan at Miss International 2023 in Japan and Miss Supranational 2024 in Poland, giving her valuable experience on the international pageant circuit.
She will now represent Pakistan at the 75th edition of Miss Universe in Puerto Rico, where contestants from around the world will compete for the international crown.
Her coronation outfit also carried a symbolic message. Arshad wore a white gown featuring a crystal-encrusted bodice designed by Vietnamese designer Nguyễn Tiến Truyển. She said the white colour represented hope and the importance of believing in one’s dreams, while the royal blue crystals symbolised education, knowledge and continuous learning.
Following her victory, Arshad said the crown was only one part of her achievement. She described the journey, the lessons she had learned and the people she had met along the way as the “true prize.”
With her selection, Misbah Arshad now joins the small group of Pakistani women who have represented the country on the Miss Universe stage, carrying Pakistan’s hopes into the competition’s 75th edition.
