Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch has taken the Miss Universe crown in Thailand, closing a season marked by disputes, resignations and tense confrontations between organisers and contestants. Her win arrives only weeks after she walked out of a pre-pageant event where an official publicly scolded her and threatened to disqualify any contestant who backed her. She was 25 during the competition, and the moment quickly ignited global conversations around professionalism, transparency and cultural clashes within the pageant’s leadership.
The drama did not slow her momentum. Instead, her exit pushed the spotlight onto behind-the-scenes tensions. Soon after, two judges resigned, with one claiming the competition was rigged. The unexpected developments intensified scrutiny on an event that has long balanced entertainment with global expectations of fairness.
Thailand’s Praveenar Singh claimed second place, while Venezuela, the Philippines and Cote d’Ivoire completed the top five. Thailand hosted the pageant for the fourth time, reaffirming its strong pageant culture and fan base. This year’s crowning marks the 74th Miss Universe winner since 1952 and reflects the organisation’s ongoing shift toward a digital, TikTok friendly era.
Why did tensions escalate in Bangkok?
The events leading to the scandal were overseen by Thai media mogul Nawat Itsaragrasil, founder of Miss Grand International, who held the licence to host the competition. The Miss Universe Organisation itself is currently operated out of Mexico under Raul Rocha. This split structure has exposed significant cultural and strategic differences.
Tensions erupted when Mr Nawat confronted Fatima Bosch for not posting promotional content. When she objected, he called security and warned that those supporting her risked disqualification. Ms Bosch walked out and several contestants followed. The Miss Universe Organisation labelled his actions “malicious”, prompting Mr Rocha to tell him to just “stop”. Although Mr Nawat apologised and blamed misunderstandings, an international delegation was sent to take control of operations.
A week later, two judges stepped down. Lebanese French musician Omar Harfouch alleged an “impromptu jury” had pre-selected finalists. Claude Makelele also resigned that day due to “unforeseen personal reasons”. The Miss Universe Organisation dismissed claims of rigging and said Mr Harfouch may have confused the Beyond the Crown social impact programme with the official judging process.
The tension escalated further when Miss Jamaica fell during the evening gown round and had to be taken out on a stretcher. She is now recovering in hospital.
What challenges lie ahead for Miss Universe leadership?
The controversies unfolded during a leadership transition. Anne Jakrajutatip, the Thai transgender media entrepreneur who purchased Miss Universe in 2022, resigned as CEO just before the events began. She was replaced by Guatemalan diplomat Mario Bucaro. Ms Jakrajutatip had introduced major reforms, including allowing transgender women, married women and mothers to compete, and removing the age cap. She also attempted to monetise the brand more aggressively as viewership declined.
Her company later filed for bankruptcy in 2023. Before stepping down, she brought in Mr Rocha and enlisted Mr Nawat to organise the 2025 event. Pageant experts have described the transition as shaky, with leadership responsibilities split between Bangkok and Mexico. Paula Shugart, former president of the organisation, stated that “no one knows who the real leaders are or who to ask when they have questions, and that’s very damaging to the brand”.
Cultural tensions have also played a role. Scholars note differences in communication styles and audience expectations between Thai and Latin American fans. Some Latin American supporters also questioned the pageant’s direction under a transgender owner, raising broader debates about tradition and inclusivity.
Looking ahead, Miss Universe must adapt to shifting audience habits. While television ratings continue to decline, social platforms drive new engagement. Former titleholders now thrive as online influencers, and Mr Nawat’s Miss Grand International has embraced livestream selling and digital fandoms. Meanwhile, Latin American audiences still view beauty queens as television stars, a difference reflected in new shows and regional competitions feeding into the Miss Universe ecosystem.
By Risper Akinyi
