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BANGKOK – In a captivating finale to the 74th Miss Universe pageant held in Bangkok, Mexico’s Fátima Bosch Fernández was declared the winner on Friday. The 25-year-old emerged victorious amid a swirl of controversy, having faced and overcome public criticism from one of the event’s hosts.
Praveenar Singh, a 29-year-old contestant from Thailand, secured the position of first runner-up, while Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser from Venezuela, aged 25, claimed the third spot.
Completing the top five were Ahtisa Manalo from the Philippines, who is 28, and 27-year-old Olivia Yacé from Ivory Coast, who finished in fifth place.
This year’s pageant was marked by tension following a host’s harsh remarks directed at Bosch, igniting a debate that included a walkout and demonstrations of feminist support. The situation culminated in a heartfelt apology from the local organizer responsible for the incident.
During a livestreamed ceremony on November 4, where nearly 130 contestants were sashed, Thai national director Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly chastised Bosch for allegedly not adhering to his directives regarding local promotional activities, even going so far as to summon security when she attempted 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.
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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