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Fatima Bosch of Mexico is crowned Miss Universe after controversial walkout
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Fatima Bosch of Mexico emerged as the new Miss Universe during the coronation held in Bangkok, capping off a season overshadowed by controversy.
Earlier in November, the 25-year-old contestant became the center of attention when she left a scheduled event after a Thai official reprimanded her in front of the other delegates and warned that anyone defending her could be removed from the competition.
The turmoil intensified days later when two members of the judging panel stepped down, with one resigning judge alleging that the results were being manipulated behind the scenes.
The announcement of Miss Mexico's triumph immediately fueled fresh debate, intensifying an already contentious pageant season.
Her win drew cheers from many supporters in Mexico and from those who had praised her earlier decision to stage a walkout.
However, others questioned whether the organization crowned her in an effort to offset the backlash from the earlier incident.
Rounding out the results were Miss Thailand Praveenar Singh as first runner-up and Miss Venezuela Stephany Abasali in third place. Miss Philippines Ahtisa Manalo and Miss Cote d'Ivoire Olivia Yace completed the top placements.
The situation escalated earlier this month during a pre-pageant event, where Thai media executive and pageant organizer Nawat Itsaragrasil publicly reprimanded Fatima Bosch in front of numerous contestants for not uploading required promotional posts.
When she questioned the outburst, Mr. Nawat summoned security and warned that any contestant who sided with her could face disqualification.
Fatima Bosch walked out of the room, with several participants following in support, a moment that quickly spread across international headlines.
The Miss Universe Organization later denounced Mr. Nawat's conduct as “malicious,” and the peageant's head Raul Rocha, addressing him from Mexico via video, urged his Thai partner to simply “stop.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also commended Bosch at the time, calling her an “example of how we women should speak out” when confronted with hostility.
Although Mr. Nawat attended Friday's finals, sharing audience snapshots on Instagram Stories, he remained offstage. After Bosch's coronation, he released a short statement in Thai: “A billion words that cannot be said.”
He additionally told reporters, “As for the outcome, we leave it to the viewers at home to judge... people everywhere can make their own assessment.”
Online reactions were swift. Some pageant followers suggested that the behind-the-scenes tension may have influenced Fatima Bosch's victory, Mexico's fourth Miss Universe title.
Fátima Bosch of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe in Thailand on Friday. The competition got off to a rocky start this month when she briefly walked out after being scolded by an organizer. @bosch_fatima
— Miss Universe Mexico 🇲🇽🌐 (@MissMexicoou) November 21, 2025
By @nytimes https://t.co/foNDUcMSlm
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