Miss Universe 2025: The Telemundo Hosts Share Their Packing Nightmares, Fashion Secrets and Who Are Their Favorites

Miami - With Miss Universe 2025 a day away and Thailand grabing for the global spotlight, the Telemundo hosting team is already living the chaos, glamour and adrenaline that comes with the world's most-watched beauty pageant. Danilo Carrera and Jacqueline Bracamontes return as the main hosts, joined this year by correspondents Carlos Adyan and Jessica Carrillo, who are covering rehearsals, backstage moments and meet-the-delegates content from the ground.

Before boarding their flights, all four admitted in interviews with The Latin Times and ENSTARZ that preparations feel like competing themselves.

Bracamontes burst out laughing when asked if she had packed. "If I were going on vacation, I'd pack the day of the trip. But if I'm going to Miss Universe, I have to plan my suitcase with time," she said while describing two open suitcases full of dresses, shoes and filming accessories in her Miami home. "My husband is about to kill me because of the mess. But as a woman, and as a mother of five, I have to be prepared."

Carrera joked he packed differently: "I haven't done anything except leave out the steamer. If something is missing, I'll buy it over there," he said, smiling as Bracamontes shook her head.

Carrillo and Adyan echoed that sentiment when speaking about the long travel schedule. "From here to Qatar it's 16 hours, then a layover, then six and a half more. It's basically a full day," Carrillo explained. "But we're used to working under any circumstances." Adyan added: "We cannot adapt to Thailand time because we'll be broadcasting on U.S. hours. So when Thailand sleeps, we'll be live. It's going to be a challenge, but we're ready."

Fashion and culture

Fashion is another battle behind the glamour. Carrera teased that he plans to break away from his usual classic look. "I'm going exotic this year," he confessed, hinting at bold Asian-inspired tailoring. Bracamontes raised an eyebrow and laughed: "Now I'm stressed. I always coordinate with him, but this time he's scaring me."

Jessica Carrillo confessed she hadn't finalized her look either. "I only tried on one dress," she said. "But my stylist travels with me, so the dress will be chosen in Thailand."

Beyond outfits and jet lag, fans worldwide want to know one thing:

who are the favorites?

Bracamontes refused to declare an early winner but explained why in-person impressions matter. "On social media you see one thing, but when you see them walk live, when you talk to them, everything can change," she said. "Ask me again after preliminaries." Still, she acknowledged early picks: "Mexico, Yamilex, Miss Universe Latina, and maybe Thailand."

Carlos Adyan agreed the competition is unpredictable and reminded fans that scoring involves multiple stages. "Nobody has an advantage," he said. "Preliminary, national costume, the private interview and final night. Those are the four pillars." While careful not to crown anyone early, he admitted, "Puerto Rico is always strong. A contestant with Dominican roots impressed me. And Venezuela, of course."

Both conversations also touched on one of this year's most viral discussions: the number of contestants born or crowned in the United States.

Carrera defended the shift. "We live in a global world," he said. "Sometimes life takes you to another country, but your roots, your heart, belong to where you were born or where your family comes from."

Adyan added: "The only rule is that contestants must have roots in the country they represent. If a girl was born here but feels Ecuadorian, Puerto Rican or Cuban, who are we to say she's not?"

Despite controversies surrounding the organization in recent months, the hosts remain clear about the purpose of the pageant. "This is not just one night," Bracamontes said. "The winner spends the next 364 days working, traveling, advocating and changing lives. That's what matters."

For now, the pressure builds, the outfits remain undecided and the world waits. As Carrera laughed while securing his outfits: "We are going to have fun. Thailand is ready. The question is, are the fans ready?"

Miss Universe 2025 airs Thursday, November 20, on Telemundo.