F\u00e1tima Bosch Fern\u00e1ndez of Mexico has been crowned Miss Universe 2025, a dramatic victory for a 25-year-old at the centre of the turbulent 74th staging of the popular beauty pageant in Bangkok who stood up to public bullying from one of the hosts.<\/p>\n
The issues at this year’s event sprang from a sharp-tongued scolding of Ms Bosch, which sparked a controversy marked by a walkout, feminist solidarity and a teary, melodramatic apology from the local organiser who set it all off.<\/p>\n
When Ms Bosch was announced as the winner, cheers and screams erupted from the audience, with Mexican flags waved by elated supporters.<\/p>\n
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F\u00e1tima Bosch Fern\u00e1ndez says she hopes to be remembered as someone who changed “the prototype of what is a Miss Universe”. (Reuters: Chalinee Thirasupa)<\/p>\n
Speaking to the media after her victory, Ms Bosch said she would like to be remembered as “a person that changed a little bit the prototype of what is a Miss Universe and a real person that gives the heart”.<\/p>\n
She also paid tribute to the pageant, describing it as “a platform that is strong because they have the space that women are searching to have a voice”.<\/p>\n
The first runner-up was 29-year old Praveenar Singh of Thailand and 25-year-old Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser of Venezuela placed third.<\/p>\n
Rounding up the finishers were Ahtisa Manalo, 28, of the Philippines, and 27-year-old Olivia Yac\u00e9 of Ivory Coast who came fifth.<\/p>\n
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Miss Venezuela and Miss Thailand rounded out the top three. (Reuters: Chalinee Thirasupa)<\/p>\n
At the livestreamed sashing ceremony for the more than 100 contestants on November 4, Thai national director Nawat Itsaragrisil hectored Bosch for allegedly not following his guidelines for taking part in local promotional activities.<\/p>\n
He called security when she spoke up to defend herself.<\/p>\n
Ms Bosch walked out of the room, joined by several others in a show of solidarity, including Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kj\u00e6r Theilvig of Denmark.<\/p>\n
“What your director did is not respectful: He called me dumb,” an unbowed Ms Bosch told Thai reporters.<\/p>\n
“If it takes away your dignity, you need to go.”<\/p>\n
Several other contestants joined F\u00e1tima Bosch Fern\u00e1ndez during her walkout in a show of solidarity. (Reuters: Chalinee Thirasupa)<\/p>\n
Mr Nawat insisted that he did not call her “dumb.”<\/p>\n
The Miss Universe Organisation president, Mexican businessman Ra\u00fal Rocha Cant\u00fa, released a statement condemning Mr Nawat’s conduct as “public aggression” and “serious abuse”.<\/p>\n
Even Mexico’s first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum, piled on, saying at a news conference that she wanted to give “recognition” to Miss Mexico for voicing her disagreement in a “dignified” way.<\/p>\n
“It seems to me that it is an example of how women should raise our voices,” Ms Sheinbaum said.<\/p>\n
Ms Sheinbaum recalled being told in the past that “women look more beautiful when they keep quiet”.<\/p>\n
“We women look more beautiful when we raise our voice and participate, because that has to do with the recognition of our rights,” she said.<\/p>\n
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The organiser that sparked the controversy later apologised to eventual winner F\u00e1tima Bosch Fern\u00e1ndez. (Reuters: Chalinee Thirasupa)<\/p>\n
Mr Nawat later apologised for his actions, appearing both tearful and defiant at the same time.<\/p>\n
“If anyone [was] affected and not comfortable it happened, I am so sorry,” he said in front of the contestants.<\/p>\n
He then turned to them and said “It’s passed. OK? Are you happy?”<\/p>\n
Ms Bosch’s official Miss Universe biography says she studied fashion in Mexico and Italy and has focused on creating sustainable designs and working with discarded materials.<\/p>\n