In a finale overshadowed by weeks of controversy, Mexico’s Fátima Bosch Fernández was crowned Miss Universe on Friday night, Nov. 21, 2025, in Bangkok—just 17 days after she walked out of a promotional event where a Thai pageant official publicly berated her and called her “dumb.”
The 25-year-old’s victory, Mexico’s fourth Miss Universe crown, has now triggered debate around a pageant season defined by public clashes, leadership infighting, resignations, and questions about fairness.
A Crowning Moment Born From a Walkout
The turning point came on Nov. 4, when Bosch was scolded in front of fellow contestants by Thai national director Nawat Itsaragrisil for failing to follow promotional posting guidelines. When she pushed back, Nawat reportedly called security and threatened to disqualify anyone who stood with her.
Bosch walked out—and several contestants, including Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig, followed in solidarity. The images of contestants quietly leaving the room went viral, casting Bosch as a symbol of defiance against public humiliation.
The Miss Universe Organization later condemned Nawat’s actions as “malicious.” Even Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum weighed in, calling Bosch “an example of how women should speak out.”
A Season of Scandals
The walkout was just the start. Days later, two judges abruptly resigned. One of them, Lebanese-French musician Omar Harfouch, accused organizers of pre-selecting finalists before the show. Hours after Bosch’s win, he repeated his rigging allegations on social media.
Organizers have denied those claims, insisting no outside group influenced the votes.
Meanwhile, the pageant also drew concern after Miss Jamaica fell during the evening gown preliminaries and was hospitalized. She suffered no broken bones but was unable to continue competing.
Leadership Chaos Behind the Scenes
This year’s Miss Universe was shaped by a messy leadership transition split between Mexico and Thailand. Thai organizer Nawat—a major figure in the pageant world through Miss Grand International—held the license to run the 2025 event. But the Miss Universe Organization itself is now led from Mexico under businessman Raúl Rocha, brought in shortly before the season began.
Experts say the fractured structure has fed confusion.
“No one knows who the real leaders are or who to ask when they have questions,” former MUO president Paula Shugart said. “It’s damaging to the brand.”
Cultural tensions also bubbled beneath the surface. Thai scholar Thitiphong Duangkhong noted that differing expectations around hierarchy, communication, and gender—particularly given former owner Anne Jakrajutatip’s role as a transwoman—created friction among fans across continents.
A Crown Dividing the Internet
While fans across Mexico celebrated Bosch’s triumph, not everyone is convinced the result was clean.
Many viewers online questioned whether the organization crowned Bosch to repair the reputational damage from the walkout.
“Next year, whoever walks out will win,” one comment joked.
“They had to crown her to make up for the injustice,” another wrote.
Even Nawat, the official at the center of the walkout, appeared cryptic, writing only: “A billion words that cannot be said.”
He added that viewers should decide for themselves.
A Pageant Fighting for Relevance
Miss Universe, once a massive live-TV spectacle, is navigating falling broadcast audiences and a shifting fan base that now thrives on TikTok and Instagram.
In Southeast Asia and Latin America, the pageant remains a powerful cultural institution. In some communities, a crown can change a family’s economic future. But its global relevance continues to be debated, particularly amid longstanding criticism that it objectifies women.
Organizers have attempted reforms—expanding eligibility to include married women, mothers, and transgender women; allowing conservative-country contestants to wear full-body swimsuit coverings; and pivoting to digital media. Yet the constant backstage turmoil has threatened to overshadow any progress.
Bosch’s Victory, and What Comes Next
Despite the surrounding drama, the Miss Universe Organization praised Bosch for demonstrating “grace, strength, and radiant spirit.”
Her supporters argue that her willingness to stand up for herself made her the obvious winner.
For now, Bosch becomes the face of a global brand desperately trying to steady itself.
Her win may be a triumph for Mexico—but for Miss Universe, it also marks the end of one of the most chaotic seasons in its 73-year history. Whether the organization can turn the page remains an open question.
