After a dramatic start to the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, the coronation show tied the ends together for Thailand and Mexico with the latter’s delegate Fatima Bosch emerging as the winner of the most coveted crown.
At the end of the coronation ceremonies held at the Impact Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi, Thailand, Bosch bested 119 beauty queens, including the Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo.
Bosch, in a resplendent red cheongsam-looking gown with cape, received her crown from Victoria Kjær Theilvig, last year’s winner. She is the fourth Miss Universe winner from Mexico.
Andrea Meza, the country’s third titleholder, was a member of the selection committee. Miss Universe Organization Pres. Raul Rocha, who owns half of the organization, is from Mexico.
Settling for the first runner-up spot was Thai beauty queen Praveenar Singh, while Stephany Abasali of Venezuela was proclaimed second runner-up. Manalo and Cote d’Ivoire’s Olivia Yace respectively emerged as the third and fourth runners up.
Manalo is a seasoned pageant contestant who counts 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray as her Binibining Pilipinas batch mate. She competed at the 2018 Miss International pageant and finished second overall.
The coronation of the new queen marked the conclusion of a drama-filled edition of the international competition in Thailand, with tension between the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and the Thai organizing team headed by Nawat Itsaragrisil overtaking the festivities.
Just days before the final competition, two selection committee members stepped away from jury duty. Omar Harfouch cited what he deemed were irregularities, while Claude Makelele cited ‘unforeseen personal reasons.’
Standing up to a ‘bully’ Bosch’s win served as a dramatic end 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 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 Theilvig.
‘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.’
Rocha 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 past. 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.
Shaky start
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.
This is Thailand’s fourth time hosting the Miss Universe pageant. Next year, the competition will be held in Puerto Rico, which has hosted the international event in 1971, 2001, and 2002