Mexico’s Bosch wears the Miss Universe crown

Miss Mexico was crowned Miss Universe in Thailand on Friday after a chaotic and emotionally charged pageant marked by public punishment, walkouts, resignations and on-stage accidents that overshadowed the final celebrations of one of the world’s most important beauty pageants.

The crowning took place in Nonthaburi, where more than 120 contestants had competed for the title considered part of the “big four” of global beauty pageants, with finalists from Ivory Coast, the Philippines, Thailand and Venezuela joining Mexico in the final stage.

Before Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch secured the title, controversy dominated the pageant, starting with allegations that she was insulted during a meeting earlier in the month, leading to her coming out in front of contestants and organizers.

Bosch walked out of the meeting wearing an evening dress and high heels after Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly confronted her on a live stream, accusing her of not uploading the required promotional content on her social media platforms.

After Nawat called for security to intervene, Bosch left the room accompanied by Miss Iraq, while several contestants stood in apparent solidarity before stopping when Nawat warned that anyone wishing to remain in the pageant should “sit down”.

Bosch later told reporters that “what your manager did is not respectful: he called me dumb,” saying the confrontation needed to be witnessed because the contestants were “strong women and this is a platform for our voice.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly supported Bosch after the incident, calling her “an example of how we women should speak” in situations of aggression, a stance widely echoed in Mexican media and online platforms.

Nawat, who had initially criticized Bosch during the clash, later apologized for his comments, though he declined to discuss her when approached on Friday, saying he “preferred not to talk about her” and preferred that fans discuss the matter.

During the same press conference, Nawat finally congratulated Bosch, telling reporters that he respected the result and wished Mexico’s supporters well after the event.

Interest in Bosch increased after the clash, with Mexican media providing extensive coverage, and in her hometown of Villahermosa, thousands reportedly gathered at a baseball field to watch the contest live amid chants of “Mexico, Mexico!”.

Celebrations in Villahermosa intensified when Bosch was crowned, with crowds cheering and fireworks lighting up the sky according to Mexican media reports, underscoring the heightened attention surrounding the contestant throughout the pageant.

Additional turmoil unfolded during the good racing week when two judges resigned, one claiming that a “secret and illegal vote” had taken place without the participation of the official jury, prompting immediate denials from the organisers.

French composer Omar Harfouch, who resigned as a judge, said the vote was conducted by people not recognized as official jurors, describing the process as irregular in a statement released on Instagram to explain his withdrawal.

The Miss Universe Organization rejected Harfouch’s claims, stating that “no makeshift jury has been set up” and confirmed that no unauthorized voting process was implemented during the pageant.

Former professional footballer Claude Makelele also withdrew as a judge, citing “unforeseen personal reasons” in a statement posted on social media, adding another layer of uncertainty to the judging process ahead of the final.

Meanwhile, complications continued on stage when Miss Britain Danielle Latimer fell during the costume round on Wednesday, landing on stage while wearing an outfit modeled after the Cockney character Eliza Doolittle.

Another incident involved Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry, who was hospitalized after falling from the main stage during an evening showcase, with officials confirming her injuries were not serious but still required medical attention.

Miss Universe Organization president Raul Rocha confirmed Henry’s hospitalization in a statement, while Miss Universe Jamaica PR director Shannon-Dale Reid said she was “resting under medical supervision” after the fall.

Reed declined to elaborate Thursday on Henry’s condition or the cause of her fall, saying medical staff continued to monitor her and no major complications had been reported at this stage.

Despite the controversy, Bosch steadily progressed through the pageant, ahead of Miss Thailand Praveenar Singh and Miss Venezuela Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser in the final moments before the top spots on stage were announced.

Photos from the event captured Bosch standing with Singh and Nasser shortly before the results were announced, highlighting the tense atmosphere after earlier dramas throughout the competition.

After being crowned, Bosch told reporters that she hoped to be remembered as “a Miss Universe who wasn’t afraid to be herself” and as someone who “changed, a little bit, the archetype of what Miss Universe is.”

Her comments echoed the stance she expressed after a confrontation with the host earlier this month, reinforcing her message that she is using the platform to speak out and forcefully against behavior she believes undermines the dignity of contestants.

The competition, which attracted global attention, came under intense scrutiny due to a combination of controversies, disputes, falls and the highly publicized standoff between Bosch and the Thai organizer.

Despite the upheaval, the final ceremony went ahead with the crowning of Bosch, marking the end of a tumultuous edition of the Miss Universe pageant that attracted significant international attention long before the winner was announced.

The evening concluded with celebrations between contestants and supporters alike, capping off a week dominated by both behind-the-scenes drama and the traditional displays of theatrics, performances and sets that typically define the annual event.