The 74th Miss Universe pageant is off to a rocky start after a heated exchange took place just as the ceremonial sashing of candidates was about to begin.
The pageant itself was in disarray following conflicting statements from the main Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and hosts Miss Universe Thailand (MUT), this despite the latter’s national director Nawat Itsaragrisil serves as MUO Executive Director.
MUO had branded a “Special Dinner and Talk Show” promoted by MUT was not officially sanctioned, however MUT stated the activity was part of its marketing campaign which hosts are allowed to oversee.
All the competing queens for Miss Universe 2025 had already arrived in Thailand and were set to kick off pre-pageant proceedings with the Sashing Ceremony, which MUT’s Facebook account was going to capture live.
Before the event could begin, however, Nawat took the opportunity to speak to all the gathered queens to reiterate MUT’s promotional activities are legal while also mentioning other issues like candidates not participating in promo shoots and sponsors linked to online casinos, which is illegal in Thailand.
Regarding the latter, Nawat asked queens who did not agree to MUT’s promo ideas to raise their hand. When the room remained silent, Nawat called on Mexico’s representative Fatima Bosch.
Nawat claimed reports from his staff that Fatima was ordered by her national director not to post anything about Thailand, prompting Fatima to explain her side.
After Fatima said that she’ll be able to follow Nawat’s orders, Nawat claimed that Mexico’s national director had been kicked out of the country.
“It’s not polite, it’s not good… if you follow orders from your national director, you are dumb,” Nawat said.
A few minutes later, Fatima stood up again for clarification, angering Nawat who repeatedly said he was still talking on the microphone.
“I’m still talking to everybody, why are you standing up to talk to me?” Nawat asked, to which Fatima replied “Because I have a voice…” but Nawat cut her off saying, “Yes you have a voice but you have to respect.”
“But you are not respecting me as [a] woman,” Fatima responded, to which Nawat called on security to escort her outside the room, resulting in audible gasps and groans from other candidates.
From the back of the room, Fatima can be heard saying “As a woman we are respecting and need to be respected. I’m here representing my country, it’s not my fault you have problems with my organization.”
The exchange resulted in reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjaer Theilvig exiting the room, expressing to pageant media stationed outside her dismay with how the situation was handled.
“We have respect for everyone but this is not how things should be handled, to trash another girl is beyond disrespectful,” Victoria said, taking her leave.
Back inside the room, some candidates opted to follow Victoria and walked out, despite Nawat’s calls for everyone to stay in their seats.
“Sit down. If anyone wants to continue the contest, sit down. If you step out, the rest of the girls will continue,” Nawat said.
Fatima was among those who walked out and, with Iraq’s Hanin Al Qoreishy beside, addressed the pageant media, which were mostly Thai and Filipino.
The beauty queen expressed her love, respect and amazement for Thai people but lamented the comments made by Nawat, particularly about being “dumb.”
“I think that the world needs to hear and see this, because we are all empowered women. This platform is meant for our voice, and one can shut our voice,” Fatima said.
“Everyone at home, every woman, it doesn’t matter if you have a big dream or a crown, if it takes away your dignity, you need to go,” she ended.
Later in an Instagram story, Victoria posted a photo of delegates who walked out, including representatives from Palestine, Costa Rica, Panama and Puerto Rico.
“This is women empowerment. This is sisterhood. Forever and always,” the titleholder wrote, tagging the Miss Universe’s account.
If the schedule will proceed, the coronation night of Miss Universe 2025 will be on November 21 where Philippine representative Ahtisa Manalo is hoping to win the country’s fifth title.
Coincidentally, the last time the Philippines won was in 2018, when Thailand last hosted, by Ahtisa’s Binibining Pilipinas batchmate Catriona Gray.