Mexico’s Fátima Bosch secured the Miss Universe crown in Bangkok after a season dominated by disputes, resignations, and questions about the pageant’s internal processes. Bosch was crowned on Nov. 20 at Impact Challenger Hall, becoming the winner of the 74th edition, which drew contestants from over 130 countries under the theme “The Power of Love.”
Her win followed weeks of tension that began on Nov. 4, when a livestream captured Thai pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil reprimanding Bosch for allegedly refusing to take part in a promotional photo shoot. Bosch contested the claim, but the confrontation escalated as Itsaragrisil continued to scold her, leading several contestants to exit the room with her. In a video shared afterward, Bosch said, "Your director is not respectful… He called me dumb."
The Miss Universe Organization and its president, Raul Rocha Cantu, publicly addressed the incident, with Rocha stating his "solidarity and support" for participants. The organization also condemned the behaviour as “malicious.” The controversy drew international attention, including praise from Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, who described Bosch as an example of speaking out.
The turmoil deepened days before the final when judge Omar Harfouch resigned, alleging the existence of an “impromptu jury” that had secretly chosen 30 finalists without the involvement of the official judges. He also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest involving individuals connected to certain contestants. The Miss Universe Organization denied his assertions, clarifying that no unauthorized group had evaluated delegates and that all assessments followed established procedures. Former French footballer Claude Makélélé withdrew soon after, citing personal reasons, and Princess Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie also stepped down from the panel.
New judges were appointed, including Natalie Glebova, whose prior coaching of Miss Canada, Jaime VandenBerg, added another layer of scrutiny to the judging system. Despite the upheaval, the competition proceeded, with Miss Thailand placing first runner-up and Miss Venezuela finishing third.
Bosch’s victory sparked divided reactions online. Some celebrated her resilience and success, while others speculated that the earlier incident influenced the outcome. Itsaragrisil, who was present in the audience but absent on stage, later wrote, “A billion words that cannot be said.”
