The final of Miss Universe 2025, held this Friday in Bangkok, crowned Fatima Bosch, Miss Mexico, as the new universal queen. But, beyond the shine of the crown, this edition will remain in the memory as one of the most chaotic, tense and questioned in the history of the pageant. Accusations of cheating, resignations, rudeness, internal tensions, expulsions and even falls on stage have turned this year into an unprecedented media storm.
Here’s what happened and how the Mexican, who became the unwitting protagonist of the drama, ended up being the big winner.
A Miss Universe full of tension and clash of egos
Thailand hosted for the fourth consecutive year an event marked by the clash between its two organizers: Thai tycoon Nawat Itsaragrisil and Mexican businessman Raul Rocha. Two completely different visions that, according to industry analysts, would have contributed to the climate of tension that enveloped the gala.
In the midst of this confrontation, Miss Universe bet on transforming itself into a show for social networks: more content for TikTok than a television show. But the strategy ended up derailing.
First big scandal: Nawat publicly insults Fatima Bosch
The controversy erupted at a previous ceremony when Nawat publicly reprimanded Fatima Bosch, accusing her of not generating enough promotional content.
In front of the cameras and in front of other candidates, the organizer even called her “stupid”. The Mexican defended herself, and Nawat ordered security to remove her from the stage. But something unexpected happened: other contestants stood up and left the room in support.
The case exploded on social media. Miss USA 2023, Noelia Voigt, wrote: “I fully sympathize with Fatima Bosch and all the amazing women who walked out yesterday in protest of the unacceptable treatment.”
Fatima herself responded strongly, “I think the world needs to see this because we are empowered women and this is a platform for our voice. I will not allow the values of respect and dignity towards women to be violated.”
International pressure was such that a delegation of executives was sent to Bangkok to intervene in the competition. Nawat ended up apologizing in a tearful video and was kicked out of the event.
Resignations, accusations of fraud and a vote under suspicion
A week later, the contest was shaken up again: two judges suddenly resigned.
French-Lebanese composer Omar Harfouch accused the organization of using a “secret and illegitimate voting system” that chose the 30 finalists before the arrival of the official jury.
He even denounced that among the people who voted there was “at least one with an affair with a contestant”. The organization denied the allegations, but the subsequent departure of former soccer player Claude Makélélé further fueled suspicions.
Harfouch said he is considering filing fraud and abuse of power charges.
Accidents, controversies and racial tensions: a derailed competition
The chaos did not stop there. The fall of Miss Jamaica, who had to be carried off on a stretcher, generated global concern. Miss Chile pretended to snort cocaine on TikTok, sparking outrage. And a former Mexican Miss Universe called Nawat “Chinese” because “everyone with slanted eyes is Chinese,” fueling a wave of criticism for racism.
All this happening while the ownership of the pageant was changing hands after the departure of Anne Jakrajutatip, the first trans woman to run it.
Fatima Bosch, from victim of a public insult to new Miss Universe
Despite the storm, Fatima Bosch managed to stay in the competition, gain international support and eventually become Miss Universe 2025.
Her coronation puts an end to an edition that, more than a beauty pageant, seemed like a reality show full of internal fights, reputation crises and an evident lack of organizational control.
Although the Mexican insisted that her mission is to use the pageant to defend women’s dignity, many analysts agree: the scandal made her the public’s favorite.
