Bangkok, Nov 21 (V7N) — Mexican contestant Fatima Bosch has won the 74th Miss Universe title, held this year in Thailand. However, her victory came against a backdrop of controversy after she was subjected to public sarcasm from a show host early in the competition. Bangladesh’s Tanzia Zaman Mithila reached the top 30, but fell short of advancing to the top 12.

The final round of Miss Universe 2025 began in Bangkok on Friday morning at 7 am Bangladesh time. Representatives from five countries — Thailand, the Philippines, Venezuela, Mexico, and Ivory Coast — advanced to the final stage after several rounds of competition. Each finalist answered two questions from the judges, and based on their performance, Fatima Bosch was crowned the winner.

Before the main event, the Miss Universe organization held a pre-pageant promotional program where contestants were required to film promotional videos showcasing Thailand, the host country. Contestants also took additional unofficial photos.

According to reports, Fatima Bosch was unable to post her photos on social media within the allotted time. This prompted Nawat Itsaragrisil, Miss Universe Thailand director and pageant host, to mock her publicly, allegedly calling her a “dumbhead” in front of other participants.

Fatima immediately responded, telling him: “You are not giving me due respect as a woman.”
When the host attempted to further reprimand her and even called security, contestants from other countries stood in solidarity with Miss Mexico. In protest, they collectively rose from their seats and walked out of the hall. The incident, captured during a live broadcast on Facebook, quickly went viral.

In a later interview, the newly crowned Miss Universe said:
“In the 21st century, a woman can never be a puppet. You cannot tell us what to say or how to dress. I am here to represent all women. Disrespecting me is disrespecting the entire female race.”

Despite the controversy, Fatima Bosch’s win has been widely celebrated, with supporters praising both her pageant performance and her firm stance on women’s dignity and respect.

END/SMA/AJ