Manuel was announced as a judge for the Miss Universe 2017 beauty pageant in early 2017. He was one of the six final judges who crowned Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters as Miss Universe 2017 at the event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Manuel was chosen to preside over the Miss Universe 2017 pageant in early 2017. He was part of a panel of six judges who crowned Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters as the new Miss Universe at the event in Las Vegas, Nevada.