Miss Mexico crowned Miss Universe 2025 amid controversy and resignations

Fatima Bosch of Mexico has been crowned Miss Universe 2025, closing one of the most controversial chapters in the pageant's 74-year history. The grand finale, held on 21 November, 2025, at Impact Challenger Hall in Nonthaburi, Thailand, capped a month marked by viral scandals, judge resignations, and renewed debate over the state of global beauty competitions.

Bosch, a 25-year-old humanitarian, emerged victorious after a high-profile confrontation with Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil, whose behaviour led to a mass walkout by contestants and a backlash from global audiences.

She was crowned by outgoing titleholder Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark during a show that featured 120 contestants from around the world. The final five included representatives from Thailand, the Philippines, Venezuela, and Côte d’Ivoire.

A dramatic season in Thailand

The 2025 edition of Miss Universe marked the 74th iteration of the event, which began in 1952. Like its long-time counterpart Miss World, the competition has begun modernising, having recently removed restrictions based on gender identity, marital status and age.

Despite these changes, critics note the ongoing promotion of narrow beauty standards, particularly regarding body image, continues to challenge the event's branding as a platform for female empowerment.

This year’s theme, “The Power of Love,” was overshadowed by internal discord. On 4 November, a livestreamed meeting showed Bosch being harshly reprimanded by Itsaragrisil for failing to promote pageant content. She was allegedly called “dumb” by the Thai director and later escorted from the room after responding calmly.

In an Instagram video following the incident, Bosch said: “We’re in the 21st century, and I’m not a doll to be made up, styled, and have my clothes changed... I came here to be a voice for all the women and all the girls who fight for causes.”

Contestants reportedly gasped during the altercation and many followed Bosch out in protest, in a move that quickly gained traction online. Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, described the incident as an “aggression” and commended Bosch for handling it with dignity.

The Miss Universe Organisation condemned Itsaragrisil’s behaviour as “malicious” and later limited his role. Miss Universe President Raul Rocha Cantu stated, “Unfortunately, Nawat has forgotten the true meaning of what it means to be a genuine host.”

Judging chaos before finale

Amid the fallout, the judging process came under scrutiny when Lebanese-French composer Omar Harfouch announced his resignation from the judging panel. Harfouch alleged on Instagram that an unofficial jury had pre-selected 30 finalists without the knowledge of the official judges.

“The results of this selection are currently being kept secret,” Harfouch said, warning of potential conflicts of interest within the group that allegedly included individuals managing votes and results.

He also claimed that the Miss Universe Organisation rushed to post a vague list of names on Instagram without disclosing their roles.

The Organisation denied these allegations, stating, “No impromptu jury has been created… All competition evaluations continue to follow the established, transparent, and supervised MUO protocols.”

Following Harfouch’s resignation, former French footballer Claude Makélélé and Princess Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie also withdrew from the judging panel. MUO did not detail reasons for Princess Camilla’s departure but noted that replacements were swiftly appointed.

Among the new judges was 2005 Miss Universe Natalie Glebova, who came under further scrutiny after it was revealed she had coached Canadian contestant Jaime VandenBerg, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.

Competition highlights

Despite the controversy, the finale proceeded with its standard format. The initial 120 contestants were narrowed to 30, then 12 after the swimsuit round. These contestants later competed in the evening gown round, before the top five were announced: Mexico, Thailand, Venezuela, the Philippines, and Côte d’Ivoire.

During the final Q&A segment, contestants responded to prompts including what global issue they would address at the United Nations. Bosch delivered a message of self-worth: “Believe in the power of your authenticity. Your dreams matter, your heart matters. Never let anyone make you doubt your worth.”

Earlier in the week, the pageant featured a national costume showcase. Miss USA Audrey Eckert wore an elaborate bald eagle ensemble by Simon Villalba, while Jamaica’s Gabrielle Henry was injured after a fall during the evening gown round. Henry was hospitalised but reported to be recovering well.

Miss Palestine, Nadeen Ayoub, became the first delegate to represent the Palestinian people in Miss Universe history. She reached the semi-finals, placing in the top 30.

Leadership changes and looking ahead

The competition also reflected structural changes within the Miss Universe Organisation. Thai media tycoon Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, who acquired MUO for US$20 million in 2022, stepped down in June 2025 after her company filed for bankruptcy.

Mario Búcaro was named CEO in October, days before contestants arrived. The Organisation has reiterated its commitment to transparency and reform, though questions around governance, representation, and judging impartiality continue to dominate discourse.

The next edition of Miss Universe is scheduled to be held in Puerto Rico in 2026.