Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch was crowned the winner of the Miss Universe 2025 competition at a ceremony on Friday, marking the top of the event that first made headlines after a pageant executive called Bosch “dumb” in front of the opposite contestants in Thailand.
Bosch, 25, was named the 74th winner of the pageant, with Miss Thailand Praveenar Singh, 29, as the primary runner-up.
Venezuela’s Stephany Abasali, 25, Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo, 28, and the Ivory Coast’s Olivia Yacé, 27, rounded out the highest five finalists on the 74th Miss Universe final, which had the theme of “The Power of Love.”
Bosch has now turn out to be the fourth Miss Universe winner from Mexico.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated Bosch’s win and applauded her for setting an example for other women.
“I like that she spoke up when she felt that was an injustice and that’s an example,” Sheinbaum said during her day by day news briefing. “That thing they said about being prettier while you’re quiet has been left behind. Women are prettier once we speak and we participate.”
Bosch’s crowning comes after a confrontation that occurred during a sashing ceremony on Nov. 4, which was livestreamed on the Miss Universe Thailand Facebook page.
Nawat Itsaragrisil, executive director of the Miss Universe Organization (MUO), reprimanded Bosch through the ceremony, causing her to get up and leave the room.
Several contestants, including the present reigning Miss Universe, Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig, Miss Universe Canada Jaime VandenBerg and Miss Universe Iraq Hanin Al Qoreishy, followed Bosch out of the room in solidarity.
Itsaragrisil, president of Miss Grand International, questioned Bosch’s absence from a social media shoot and claimed that she had “no respect.”
“I heard you’re not going to support every little thing about Thailand, is that true?” he asked, before accusing her of listening to the Miss Mexico directors as a substitute of the Miss Universe team in Thailand when asked to take part in a photograph shoot.
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The exchange between the pair lasted about 4 minutes before Itsaragrisil called Bosch “dumb.”
He then called on security to remove Bosch from the room.
“We respect you, just as it is best to respect us. I’m here representing my country, and it’s not my fault you’ve problems with my organization,” she said to Itsaragrisil.
Moments later, Bosch stood up and left the room while he tried to order other contestants who were leaving the room to sit down down.
After exiting, Bosch spoke to the press alongside Miss Universe Iraq and said what the director did “isn’t respectful.”
“He called me ‘dumb’ because he has problems with the organization, and I believe that’s not fair because I’m here and I do every little thing OK,” she said. “I don’t mess with anyone. I just attempt to be kind. I’m trying to offer my best, and he told me to shut up and a variety of various things.”
Bosch said she thinks “the world must see this because we’re empowered women and it is a platform for our voice.”
“Nobody can silence us, and nobody will do this to me,” she added. “I don’t have an issue with any one in all you. You have got my respect, and I like your country, but the best way that he treats me with none reason, simply because he has problems — that isn’t OK.”
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve a giant dream or a crown. If it takes away your dignity, it is best to walk away,” she added before walking away.
The Miss Universe Organization issued a press release following the controversial incident.
Within the statement, Miss Universe Organization’s president Raúl Rocha said he wouldn’t allow “the values of respect and dignity of ladies to be violated.”
“I need to precise my solidarity and support to all delegates representing the 122 countries on the Miss Universe Competition, during which Thailand is our host country,” Rocha said.
Rocha said that he would “wish to make it clear” his “great indignation toward Nawat for the general public aggression he committed against Fátima Bosch, Miss Universe Mexico, whom he humiliated, insulted and showed an absence of respect, along with the intense abuse of getting called security to intimidate a defenceless woman.”
“For the above reasons, I actually have restricted Nawat’s participation within the events which might be a part of the 74th Miss Universe Competition, limiting it as much as possible or eliminating it entirely,” he added.
Itsaragrisil responded in a press release, saying: “I invested and tried my best to make this event fair to everyone nevertheless it’s hard to manage.”
“Sorry universe fans, I can only do that because my patience has a limit. Sorry again if I make anyone uncomfortable watching,” he added.
This 12 months’s Miss Universe pageant also saw two of the judges resign from the jury days before the competition was set to start.
Miss Universe judge Omar Harfouch resigned after alleging the 30 finalists were pre-selected by an “impromptu jury” and announced his withdrawal before expressing his “profound confusion and concern.”
The Miss Universe Organization issued a press release following Harfouch’s allegations, claiming that his published statements “incorrectly suggested that an unauthorized or impromptu jury had been formed and that the official judges had been excluded from the choice of finalists.”
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