BANGKOK — Fátima Bosch, a 25-year-old contestant from Mexico, won the 74th Miss Universe crown in Bangkok on Thursday (Friday, Thai time), concluding a pageant marked by walkouts, public disputes and allegations of mismanagement..
Thai contestant Veena Singh was the first runner-up. The second runner-up was Miss Venezuela Stephany Abasali, followed by Miss Philippines Ahtisa Manalo in fourth place and Miss Côte d’Ivoire Olivia Yacé in fifth.
Fátima became one of the most talked-about contestants this year after a confrontation with Thai pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil during a pre-pageant activity. Nawat accused her of skipping a scheduled event and questioned her professionalism. Several Latin American outlets reported that he called her a “dumbhead,” though Nawat insisted he had said “damaged.”
Video of the exchange went viral and was later carried by major media. When Fátima attempted to explain herself, Nawat cut her off and told her to be quiet. Security staff eventually escorted her out of the room. Fátima resisted being silenced, telling him, “I have a voice.”
Tabasco’s First Miss Universe
At the age of six, Fatima Bosch was diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD, and hyperactivity—challenges that made her early education extremely difficult. However, through determination and faith, she learned to overcome these obstacles, discovering her own inner strength and resilience.
Fátima comes from a prominent family in Tabasco with ties to both beauty pageants and politics. She studied at the Arjí School in Villahermosa before pursuing clothing and fashion design at the Ibero-American University. She also trained at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan and the Lyndon Institute in Vermont.
Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Fátima is deeply committed to philanthropy. She has spent over nine years volunteering in the fight against childhood cancer, organizing an annual Christmas toy truck drive at the oncology hospital in Tabasco through her social initiatives, Ruta Monarca and Corazón Migrante.
Her participation this year marked a historic milestone, making her the first woman from Tabasco to compete on the Miss Universe stage.
Chaos Behind the Scenes
The pageant had already been under scrutiny after contestants accused the Thai organizing team of disrespectful conduct, prompting a walkout. The controversy led Miss Universe Organization President Raul Rocha Cantu to scale back the role of the Thai organizers.
Despite the upheaval, the event proceeded with activities in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya before the final at Impact Muang Thong Thani. Rocha later brought in Thai pageant figure Nawat to help steer the event through the turmoil.
The trouble continued when two judges from France and Lebanon withdrew days before the final, alleging the winner had been predetermined.
Miss Jamaica also fell from the stage during the November 19 preliminary round and was taken to a hospital. She was later declared safe but did not return for the final.
Mexico’s Forth Miss Universe Crown
This year’s competition named 30 semifinalists, including 15 from the Americas, seven from Asia and four each from Europe and Africa. The Top 12 included Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Malta and Côte d’Ivoire.
The final five — Thailand, Venezuela, the Philippines, Mexico, and Côte d’Ivoire — advanced to back-to-back question-and-answer rounds, drawing loud cheers from fans inside the arena. Although the applause for Mexico was notably quieter than for the other finalists, the judges were won over, ultimately awarding her the crown.
With this victory, Fátima became the forth representative from Mexico to claim the Miss Universe title, joining the exclusive ranks of Mexico’s legendary queens: Lupita Jones (1991), Ximena Navarrete (2010), and Andrea Meza (2020).
Organizer Reflects on Results
Nawat, chair of the Thai host committee for the 74th Miss Universe pageant, expressed satisfaction with the event’s production standards while confirming his intention to focus exclusively on his Miss Grand International brand in the future.
Nawat, who also serves as vice president of Miss Universe Asiana, defended the quality of the broadcast following the final competition.
“If we’re talking about the production, I think viewers were happy,” Nawat said. “Those who worked with us told me they were impressed with Thailand’s capabilities. They couldn’t believe we achieved this level of professionalism. Everything was done by Thai people.”
While acknowledging the process was “exhausting,” Nawat described the experience as a valuable lesson. He noted that while the event did not incur financial losses, profits fell short of expectations. He credited sponsors for helping sustain the project.
Addressing the placement of Thailand’s Veena Singh, who finished as first runner-up, Nawat praised her performance and urged fans to accept the outcome.
“Veena proved herself. Both Thai and international media loved her. We must respect the final results,” he said. “For me, Veena didn’t miss anything. She followed all the advice, eased her nerves, and did everything right.”
Nawat acknowledged the collective disappointment among Thai fans but highlighted the delegate’s global impact.
“Fans are sad, and I think Veena is sad too. I’m sad as well,” he said. “But she did her best. We’re disappointed, but winning or not winning doesn’t matter—she is loved around the world.”
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