BANGKOK — A Thai pageant organizer has filed a defamation complaint against newly crowned Miss Universe Fátima Bosch, escalating turmoil that has surrounded this year’s competition even after it concluded in November.
Bosch, 25, from Mexico, won the 74th Miss Universe title in Bangkok amid accusations that the contest was tilted in her favor. She now faces legal action from Nawat Itsaragrisil, chairman of the Miss Universe Thailand Host Committee and CEO of the Miss Grand International Organization (MGI), who alleges she falsely accused him of calling her a “dumbhead” during pageant activities in Thailand.
Nawat confirmed the complaint Sunday night in Phuket during the Miss Grand Phuket 2026 final, saying Bosch repeatedly made the allegation in television interviews, claiming he verbally bullied her after she declined to participate in sponsor-related activities.
He said the defamation report was filed on November 12 to protect MGI’s reputation as a publicly listed company. “I had already let it go, but the company cannot ignore accusations that damage its name,” he said, adding that he wanted to act within Thailand’s three-month legal window for filing such cases.
Nawat insisted he never used the insult, stating that digital records from the event show he told Bosch, “Your damage,” referring to the negative impact of skipping scheduled activities. “I said that clearly,” he said.
He added that he had apologized to Bosch for losing his temper amid what he described as repeated provocations and refusals to fulfill her commitments. “What I cannot accept is being accused of something I didn’t say,” he said. “That is why the legal team reviewed the matter and decided to proceed.”
Calling Bosch’s accusation a deliberate falsehood, Nawat argued that public advocacy requires responsibility. “If you have a voice, you must also have respect,” he said. “If you lie and defame others, that is not empowerment—it is a crime.”
He stressed that the complaint has no connection to Bosch’s title. “No one is trying to dethrone her,” he said. “She holds the highest position in the organization. But she should reflect on what she said. Defamation is a criminal offense.”
Broader Controversy
The 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Thailand has been engulfed in controversy for months. Beyond the dispute between Nawat and Bosch, questions have been raised about Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú, a co-owner of the pageant, and his business ties to Bosch’s family—concerns that prompted two judges to resign before the final.
After the event, Miss Côte d’Ivoire Olivia Yacé resigned her fourth runner-up placement and continental queen title, citing alleged misconduct and judging irregularities.
The turmoil deepened when Mexico’s anti-money laundering agency froze Rocha Cantú’s bank accounts as part of an investigation into alleged drug, fuel, and arms trafficking. Separately, a Thai court issued an arrest warrant for former Miss Universe co-owner Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip after she failed to appear for a verdict hearing in a fraud case involving $930,000.
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