The Miss Universe 2025 pageant, set to be held in Thailand on November 21, has been overshadowed by intense controversy following a confrontation between Miss Universe Mexico Fatima Bosch and Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil. The dispute erupted at a pre-event gathering when Bosch reportedly declined to post promotional content for Thailand. As tensions rose, she attempted to explain but ultimately walked out of the venue. Contestants such as Denmark’s Victoria Theilvig supported her and exited the hall as well. Itsaragrisil responded sternly, cautioning other contestants that they risked disqualification if they followed her out, which triggered a wave of criticism online accusing him of harming Thailand’s image as the host country.
The incident added to longstanding concerns over his management style, especially after India’s Rachel Gupta resigned from Miss Grand International 2024, which he also oversees, citing a toxic environment. The controversy expanded when Miss Universe Organisation president Raul Rocha posted a public video criticizing Itsaragrisil’s conduct and confirmed that senior executives would travel to Thailand to address the issue. In response, Itsaragrisil held a press event where he tearfully apologized. Later, during the contestants’ welcome ceremony in Bangkok, he repeated his apology and thanked delegates for their participation.
The drama intensified when judge and composer Omar Harfouch resigned just days before the final competition. He alleged that a secret committee had already selected the top 30 contestants before the preliminary rounds and claimed severe conflicts of interest, including an alleged affair between a committee member and a contestant. He argued that the vote-counting process was managed by individuals connected personally to some contestants, raising concerns about fairness. Shortly after, another judge, French football manager Claude Makélélé, announced his withdrawal without providing details.
The Miss Universe Organisation quickly denied claims of rigging and emphasized that the evaluation process follows established and transparent rules. It also banned Omar Harfouch from any future association with the brand. Meanwhile, 122 contestants continue their journey toward the crown, including Miss India 2025 Manika Vishwakarma, who will represent India on the global stage. The event will be streamed live on the official Miss Universe YouTube channel at 6:30 am IST.
