The stage was set for a Miss Universe event in Thailand, but the proceedings took an unexpected turn when an official from the host nation publicly rebuked Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, in a tense confrontation that sent shockwaves through the competition.
During a pre-pageant ceremony, the director of Miss Universe Thailand, Nawat Itsaragrisil, publicly scolded Ms. Bosch for failing to post promotional content, causing a rift among the contestants. When she objected, Nawat called for security and threatened to disqualify those who supported her. The young Mexican beauty stood her ground, and in response, she and several other contestants walked out of the room in solidarity.
The incident was live-streamed, and videos of the confrontation quickly spread online, outraging fans and prompting condemnation from the Miss Universe Organisation (MUO). Nawat apologized for his "malicious" behavior, but his actions were deemed unacceptable by the MUO, which sent a delegation of international executives to take over the running of the competition.
In a video statement, MUO President Raul Rocha rebuked Nawat for "forgetting the true meaning of what it means to be a genuine host." He stated that Nawat had "humiliated, insulted, and shown a lack of respect" to Ms. Bosch and had "committed the serious abuse of having called security to intimidate a defenseless woman."
Rocha announced that Nawat's participation in the pageant would be limited "as much as possible" or eliminated entirely and that the MUO would be taking "legal actions" against him. He emphasized that Miss Universe is an empowerment platform for women, and his message was clear: "I wish to reiterate that Miss Universe is an empowerment platform for women so that their voices can be heard in the world."
The event continued on Wednesday with a welcome event in Bangkok, but the controversy loomed over the proceedings. Reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark also walked out on Tuesday, stating that "this is about women's rights. This is not how things should be handled. To trash another girl is beyond disrespectful... That's why I'm taking my coat and I'm walking out."
Ms. Bosch later expressed her resolve in an interview: "I just want to let my country know, I'm not afraid to make my voice heard. It's here stronger than ever. I have a purpose. I have things to say." She added, "We're in the 21st century. I'm not a doll to be made up, styled, and have my clothes changed." She emphasized her commitment to using her platform to speak for all women and girls who fight for causes.
Nawat's apology was met with mixed reactions on social media, with many still heavily criticizing his actions and praising Ms. Bosch's response. The competition will continue as planned, with the winner being crowned on 21 November.
