Fátima Bosch of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe 2025 Friday in Thailand, weeks after walking out of a pageant event in protest. The win followed a contentious buildup that drew international attention.
The controversy began at an early-November sash ceremony streamed live, when Thai media personality and then-pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly scolded Bosch for not taking part in certain promotional activities. When Bosch stood to reply, Itsaragrisil called security and she was escorted from the room. Several other contestants, including then-reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark, also walked out.
Bosch later told Thai media she was called “dumb” by the director and described the treatment as unfair, saying she had been doing her best. “The world needs to see this, because we are empowered women and this is a platform for our voice,” she said, adding that no one can silence them. Itsaragrisil, visibly emotional at a later event, denied calling her a “dumbhead” as widely reported, said he had been referring to “damage” caused by behavior, and apologized to Bosch and fans, saying the pressure got to him.
Miss Universe Organization (MUO) President Raúl Rocha publicly rebuked Itsaragrisil in a video, accusing him of forgetting “the true meaning of what it means to be a genuine host” and saying his actions — including calling security to intimidate a contestant — showed a lack of respect. Rocha warned of legal and corporate consequences and said he would restrict or possibly remove Itsaragrisil’s role in the pageant, though the two were later photographed together at events.
The competition faced additional turbulence ahead of the final. Two of the eight judges resigned within hours of each other: former French soccer star Claude Makélélé cited unforeseen personal reasons, while Lebanese-French composer Omar Harfouch alleged the contest was rigged. Harfouch claimed a “secret vote” two days before the final had pre-selected 30 contestants and said an external group, not the official jurors, had evaluated delegates. The MUO issued a detailed denial, saying no impromptu jury was created and suggesting Harfouch may have been referring to its separate “Beyond the Crown Program,” which has its own selection process.
Preliminary events were also eventful. During the evening gown round, Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry fell off the stage and was taken away on a stretcher; she did not compete in the finals. Rocha later said he had visited her in a Bangkok hospital and that she was under observation but had no broken bones.
In the final, Bosch was asked how she would use the Miss Universe platform to create safe spaces for women. She said she would put her voice “in the power and the service of others” and emphasized speaking up to drive change. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum praised Bosch at a press briefing, saying speaking out is an example and that “women are prettier when we speak and we participate.”
Since 2024 the Miss Universe Organization has been jointly owned by Thai media company JKN and Legacy Holding Group USA Inc., part of a Mexican company owned by Rocha. The organization has undergone multiple ownership changes since its founding in 1952 and has faced declining viewership and financial instability in recent years. Puerto Rico’s governor, Jenniffer González-Colón, announced that the island will host next year’s competition.