Mexico’s Fátima Bosch Claims Miss Universe Title After a Pageant Rocked by Protest & Scandal

Fátima Bosch’s win at Miss Universe 2025 did not feel like a routine victory. It felt like a turning point. The 25-year-old model’s crown arrived only weeks after she made global headlines for walking out of a pageant event and calling out a director who insulted her in front of the world. Many people saw her as the contestant who refused to be pushed around, and that energy followed her straight to the big night in Bangkok.

The drama began on November 4 during a livestreamed event that was supposed to build excitement for the pageant. Instead, viewers watched Thai pageant director Nawat Itsaragrisil scold Bosch for not taking part in enough promotional activities.

 

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Bosch tried to defend herself, but the situation worsened when he brought in security, which pushed her to walk out.

Other contestants, including reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig, followed her in support. The moment went viral fast.

Fatima / IG / Bosch told reporters that the director had called her dumb and argued that no crown was worth losing your dignity.

Her words spread quickly, and many people applauded her honesty and calm under pressure. The Miss Universe Organization stepped in soon after, calling the director’s behavior inappropriate and restricting his role in all events that followed.

Even Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, spoke about the incident. She praised Bosch for raising her voice and said the contestant represented strength and self-respect. Support poured in from viewers around the world, and in the days that followed, Bosch went from a strong contestant to a symbol of fairness inside an industry known for behind-the-scenes pressure.

Finals Night and a Full-Circle Moment

When finals night arrived on November 21 in Bangkok, the energy felt different. Bosch stepped on the stage carrying the weight of the controversy, but she looked steady and focused. Her confidence grew stronger with each round, and by the time she stood in the top five, the crowd was fully behind her. She answered her final question with clarity, saying she planned to use her voice to help women feel safe and heard, and reminding the audience that real change comes from speaking up.

Victoria Kjær Theilvig, the winner from Denmark who had defended Bosch earlier in the month, placed the crown on her head. The moment sparked cheers in the arena and across social media. Many fans called it a full-circle moment and said the win felt earned not only through performance but through character.

Thailand’s Praveenar Singh placed as first runner-up, and Venezuela’s Stephany Abasali finished as second runner-up. The Philippines’ Ahtisa Manalo and the Ivory Coast’s Olivia Yacé rounded out the top five. The finalists delivered strong performances, but Bosch’s story had become larger than the typical competition narrative.

Scandal, Rumors, and a Rough Pageant Season

Fatima / IG / The pageant itself struggled with problems all month. Days before the final show, judge Omar Harfouch resigned and claimed there had been a secret vote that preselected the main finalists.

After Bosch won, he doubled down, calling her a fake winner and suggesting the results were influenced by business ties linked to her family. The Miss Universe Organization denied all allegations and criticized Harfouch for spreading rumors during a sensitive moment.

The chaos did not stop there. During preliminary events, Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry fell off the stage and had to be carried out on a stretcher. Thankfully, doctors later confirmed she had no broken bones, and the pageant released a statement saying she was recovering. The accident became one more headline in a season already filled with shocking stories.

There were even more incidents that fueled debate. A former winner made racist comments that sparked backlash online, and Miss Chile apologized after a video spread showing her pretending to use drugs.