BANGKOK – A controversy erupted at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant after several contestants walked out of a pre-pageant event in Thailand to protest the public humiliation of Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, by a senior Thai official.
The incident occurred when Nawat Itsaragrisil, vice president for Asia and Oceania at the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) and head of the Thai host committee, called Bosch “dumb” during a live-streamed session for allegedly refusing to post promotional content about Thailand.
In the now-viral video, Itsaragrisil can be seen questioning Bosch over her social media activity and accusing her of disobeying instructions from her national director. “You don’t like to post everything because your director from Mexico ordered you not to pay attention to the host country? If you follow those orders, you are dumb,” he said, before ordering security to remove her.
Read More: Miss Universe 2025 faces chaos after public confrontation
Bosch protested, saying, “You are not respecting me as a woman.” Her statement was met with applause from several contestants, including reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark, who stood up and walked out in solidarity.
“This is about women’s rights,” Theilvig later told reporters. “Insulting another contestant is unacceptable. I left because I couldn’t support that kind of disrespect.”
In a statement shared on social media, Bosch reaffirmed her stance: “I’m not afraid to make my voice heard. I came here to represent women who fight for dignity and equality. I am not a doll to be styled and silenced.”
Read More: Roma Riaz crowned Miss Universe Pakistan 2025
Following the backlash, MUO President Raúl Rocha Cantú released a statement on Tuesday condemning the incident, emphasizing that the organization “will not allow the values of respect and dignity of women to be violated.”
The controversy has sparked global outrage, with fans and former contestants demanding an apology and disciplinary action against Itsaragrisil.