Miss Mexico is crowned Miss Universe at a pageant where she stood up to
a host's bullying
[November 21, 2025]
BANGKOK (AP) — Fátima Bosch Fernández of Mexico was crowned Miss
Universe 2025 on Friday, a dramatic victory for a 25-year-old at the
center of the turbulent 74th staging of the popular beauty pageant in
Bangkok who stood up to public bullying from one of the hosts.
The first runner-up was 29-year old Praveenar Singh of Thailand and
25-year-old Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser of Venezuela placed third.
Rounding up the finishers were Ahtisa Manalo, 28, of the Philippines,
and 27-year-old Olivia Yacé of Ivory Coast who came fifth.
The bad vibes at this year’s event sprang from a sharp-tongued scolding
of the Mexican contestant, Bosch, which sparked a controversy marked by
a walkout, feminist solidarity and a teary melodramatic apology from the
local organizer who set it all off.
At the livestreamed sashing ceremony for virtually all 130 contestants
on Nov. 4, Thai national director Nawat Itsaragrisil hectored Bosch for
allegedly not following his guidelines for taking part in local
promotional activities. He called security when she spoke up to defend
herself.
Bosch walked out of the room, joined by several others in a show of
solidarity, including Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjær Theilvig of
Denmark.
“What your director did is not respectful: he called me dumb,” an
unbowed Bosch told Thai reporters. “If it takes away your dignity, you
need to go.”
The Miss Universe Organization president, Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha
Cantú, released a statement condemning Nawat’s conduct as “public
aggression” and “serious abuse.”
Even Mexico’s first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum, piled on, saying
at a news conference in her country’s capital that she wanted to give
“recognition” to Miss Mexico for voicing her disagreement in a
“dignified” way.
“It seems to me that it is an example of how women should raise our
voices,” Sheinbaum said.
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Mexico Fatima Bosch competes during the final round of the 74th Miss
Universe Beauty Pageant in Nonthaburi province, Thailand, Friday,
Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Sheinbaum recalled being told in the past a common phrase that
“women look more beautiful when they keep quiet.”
“We women look more beautiful when we raise our voice and
participate, because that has to do with the recognition of our
rights,” she said.
Nawat later made apologies for his actions, appearing both tearful
and defiant at the same time .
“If anyone (was) affected and not comfortable it happened, I am so
sorry,” he said in front of the contestants. He then turned to them
and said “It’s passed. OK? Are you happy?”
Bosch's official Miss Universe biography says she studied fashion in
Mexico and Italy and has focused on creating sustainable designs and
working with discarded materials. It says she has volunteered with
sick children, promoted environmental awareness, and engaged in
supported migrants and mental health issues.
This year's competition also saw a report that two judges had quit,
with one of them suggesting that there was an element of rigging to
the contest. The allegation was denied. Separately, Thai police
investigated the alleged illegal promotion of online casinos as part
of the event’s publicity, a turn of events that may have been
connected with the organizers’ feud.
Mishaps and controversies are not rare for the pageant. The 2021
event attracted criticism because it was held in Israel, to the
dismay of supporters of the Palestinian cause.
An example of a minor misstep — literally — occurred Wednesday when
Miss Universe Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, fell off the stage during
the evening gown competition. She was not badly hurt.
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