Mexico Wins Miss Universe Amid Storm of Scandals

The crown has found its home on the head of Mexico's Fátima Bosch, but the path to the Miss Universe 2025 title was anything but smooth. In a finale marked by unprecedented drama, Bosch was crowned on November 20, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand, amidst a swirling vortex of controversy that threatened to overshadow her victory.

The 74th Miss Universe competition, themed "The Power of Love," brought together delegates from over 130 countries and territories. However, weeks of intense public scrutiny and internal turmoil cast a long shadow over the event.

A Viral Confrontation and Contestant Walkout

The storm broke on November 4, when a livestream captured a heated exchange between Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, and pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil. Bosch was accused of refusing to participate in a mandatory social media photo shoot. Despite Bosch's denial, Itsaragrisil publicly chastised her, calling her "dumb" and "disrespectful." The confrontation escalated to the point where several contestants walked out of the room in solidarity with Bosch.

"Your director is not respectful," Bosch later stated in a video interview addressing the incident. "He called me dumb." The Miss Universe Organization's president, Raul Rocha Cantu, subsequently released a video statement, expressing "solidarity and support" for all delegates but criticizing Itsaragrisil for "forgetting the true meaning of what it means to be a genuine host."

Resignations and Allegations of Bias

The controversy didn't end there. Just days before the final competition, the pageant was thrown into further turmoil by a series of judge resignations. Pianist Omar Harfouch resigned, alleging the formation of an "impromptu jury" tasked with selecting the top 30 finalists. Harfouch claimed this unofficial panel, which he discovered via social media, included individuals with significant conflicts of interest, potentially including someone involved in vote counting and result management with personal ties to contestants.

"The results of this selection are currently being kept secret," Harfouch stated in an Instagram post. Following his resignation, former French soccer star Claude Makélélé and Princess Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, president of the selection committee, also stepped down.

In response, the Miss Universe Organization issued a firm denial, stating: "The Miss Universe Organization firmly clarifies that no impromptu jury has been created, that no external group has been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists, and all competition evaluations continue to follow the established, transparent, and supervised MUO protocols." However, the damage was done. The organization appointed new judges, including former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova, though it later emerged that Glebova had personally coached Miss Canada competitor Jaime VandenBerg, adding another layer of perceived conflict.

Bosch Triumphs Amidst Chaos

Against this backdrop of internal strife and public scandal, the competition proceeded. The final night culminated in Fátima Bosch being crowned Miss Universe 2025 by outgoing titleholder Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark, who made history last year as the first-ever Danish winner.

Bosch's victory, however, carries immense symbolic weight. It represents not just personal achievement but a triumph over adversity and the very controversies that threatened to derail the pageant itself. Her win occurred just two weeks after the explosive confrontation that saw her stand up to a powerful figure and rally fellow contestants.

The Battle for a Beauty Empire

As Bloomberg highlighted, Bosch's win comes amid a deeper struggle: "how to keep a fading industry alive." The Miss Universe Organization faces the ongoing challenge of modernizing a pageant with deep historical roots while navigating intense public scrutiny, accusations of bias, and the constant pressure to maintain relevance and integrity. The "Battle for a Beauty Empire" isn't just on stage; it's fought in boardrooms and social media feeds.

As Fátima Bosch begins her reign, the question looms large: Can the Miss Universe Organization emerge from this turbulent period stronger, implementing the transparency and respect Bosch demanded, or will the controversies continue to define the pageant's future? The crown may be on her head, but the battle for the soul of Miss Universe is far from over.