Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on Friday in Thailand, closing a turbulent month for one of the world’s most watched beauty competitions. The 25-year-old humanitarian and volunteer secured the title ahead of first runner-up Praveenar Singh of Thailand, receiving the crown from last year’s winner, Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark.
Bosch’s victory came after a series of controversies that cast an unusual shadow over the 74th Miss Universe pageant. The most prominent incident involved Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil, who referred to Bosch with an insult during a livestreamed speech on Nov. 4. The remark prompted widespread criticism, as video circulated showing contestants walking out in solidarity with Miss Mexico. Although Itsaragrisil later issued an emotional apology, pageant president Raúl Rocha Cantú imposed sweeping sanctions that effectively excluded the director from nearly all pageant events.
Tensions escalated further in the days leading up to the final when composer Omar Harfouch resigned as a judge. He alleged irregularities within the competition, claiming that an informal jury helped select finalists without the full panel present and raising broader concerns about transparency. The Miss Universe Organization pushed back against those accusations, publicly denying the claims and maintaining confidence in its voting process.
Adding to the tumult, Miss Universe Jamaica Dr. Gabrielle Henry suffered a dramatic fall during the preliminary evening gown round earlier in the week. Video of the incident quickly spread online. According to the organization, Cantú visited Henry after the fall, and she was reported to be in stable condition after receiving treatment for minor injuries at a Bangkok hospital, where she was kept overnight for observation.
Despite the swirl of issues surrounding the pageant, the final competition proceeded with a celebratory atmosphere, culminating in Bosch’s crowning moment. Her win served as a defining conclusion to a contest in which the spotlight often strayed from the stage to the controversies behind it.
Source: USA Today