Beauty queen who walked out of Miss Universe pageant ends up winning it

Mexico’s Fatima Bosch – once berated as a ‘dumbhead’ by the director of Miss Universe in Thailand – has been crowned the winner of the pageant.

The victory of the 25-year-old has only added to the controversy, with news of Miss Mexico’s win instantly dividing opinion online.

Praveenar Singh of Thailand, 29, was the first runner-up. Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser of Venezuela, 25, placed third.

Rounding up the finishers were Ahtisa Manalo, 28, of the Philippines, and 27-year-old Olivia Yace, of Ivory Coast who came fifth.

What scandals took place at the 2025 event?

Even before the finale, the competition, held in Bangkok, was plagued by a myriad of scandals.

Judges resigned, there were allegations of vote rigging, mock drug use and dramatic stage falls.

Earlier this month, Bosch claimed that she had faced a tongue-lashing – in public – from the pageant’s Thai director, Nawat Itsaragrisil, who called her a ‘dumbhead’ during a livestream online.

A video that then exploded in popularity on TikTok and Instagram showed Miss Mexico storming out, followed by several other contestants, who also walked out in support.

Nawat singled her out over her apparent failure to post any promotional content on her social media.

He then called security when Bosch spoke up to defend herself.

‘What your director did is not respectful: he called me dumb,’ she later told Thai reporters. ‘If it takes away your dignity, you need to go.’

Following the scandal, he made a teary melodramatic apology, telling the contestants: ‘If anyone is affected and not comfortable it happened, I am so sorry.’

He then turned to them and said, ‘It’s passed. OK? Are you happy?’

After the incident, Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum called Bosch an ‘example of how we women should speak out’ in the face of aggression.

Other drama in the run-up to the final round included two judges quitting this week, with one alleging the contest was rigged by a ‘secret and illegitimate vote’ held without the official jury.

French composer Omar Harfouch wrote in a statement on Instagram: ‘This vote was conducted by individuals who are not recognised members of the official judging panel.’

The Miss Universe Organisation has denied Harfouch’s claims, stating that ‘no impromptu jury has been created’.

Former professional footballer Claude Makelele also withdrew as a jurist, citing ‘unforeseen personal reasons’ in a statement on social media.

Separately, Thai police investigated the alleged illegal promotion of online casinos as part of the event’s publicity, a turn of events that may have been connected with the organisers’ feud.

To top it all off, Miss Britain Danielle Latimer tripped and fell flat on the stage during the costume round on Wednesday, while wearing an outfit inspired by the Cockney character Eliza Doolittle.

And Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry was hospitalised after she fell off the main stage during an evening gown showcase.

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