Miss Mexico defies bullying to be crowned Miss Universe
Mexican Fatima Bosch Fernandez was crowned Miss Universe 2025 at the center of the tumultuous 74th beauty pageant in Bangkok, a dramatic victory for a 25-year-old who endured public bullying from one of her hosts.
While 29-year-old Thai Praveenar Singh took the first place, 25-year-old Venezuelan Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser came third.
Rounding out the finishers were 28-year-old Ahtisa Manalo from the Philippines and 27-year-old Olivia Yace from Ivory Coast, who placed fifth.
The bad mood at the event was caused by a sharp-tongued rebuke from Mexican competitor Bosch; This sparked a debate marked by strikes, feminist solidarity and a tearful, melodramatic apology from the local organizer who started it all.
At the siege ceremony, which was broadcast live for almost all 130 contestants on November 4, Thailand national director Nawat Itsaragrisil criticized Bosch for allegedly failing to comply with its guidelines on taking part in local promotional activities.
When he spoke in self-defense, he called security.
Bosch left the room in a show of solidarity with several others, including Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark.
“What your director did is not respectful at all: he called me a fool,” an unyielding Bosch told Thai journalists.
“If this violates your dignity, you must leave.”
Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantu, president of the Miss Universe organization, condemned Nawat’s behavior as “public aggression” and “serious harassment”.
Even Mexico’s first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, piled on, saying she wanted to give Miss Mexico “recognition” for voicing her disagreement in a “dignified” way.
“It seems to me that this is an example of how women need to raise our voices,” Sheinbaum said.
Nawat later apologized for his actions, appearing both tearful and defiant.
“I’m very sorry if anyone was affected and offended by this incident,” he said in front of the contestants.
He then turned to them and said: “It’s over. Okay? Are you happy?”
Bosch’s official Miss Universe bio says she studied fashion in Mexico and Italy and focuses on creating sustainable designs and working with discarded materials.
She says she volunteers to care for sick children, promotes environmental awareness, and supports immigrants and mental health issues.
The 2025 competition also saw a report that two judges resigned; One of them claimed that the contest was rigged.
The claim was rejected.
Separately, Thai police investigated alleged illegal promotion of online casinos as part of promoting the event; this was a series of events that could be linked to the organizers’ fight.
