Mexico's Bosch wears Miss Universe crown

NONTHABURI, THAILAND:

Miss Mexico was crowned Miss Universe in Thailand on Friday after a chaotic and emotionally charged build-up marked by public chastisement, walkouts, resignations and on-stage accidents that overshadowed the final celebrations of one of the world's major beauty pageants.

The crowning took place in Nonthaburi, where more than 120 contestants had competed for the title considered part of the "big four" of global beauty pageants, with finalists from the Ivory Coast, the Philippines, Thailand and Venezuela joining Mexico in the final stage.

Before Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch secured the title, controversy dominated the pageant, beginning with allegations that she had been insulted during a meeting earlier in the month, prompting her to walk out in front of participants and organisers.

Bosch left the meeting wearing an evening gown and high heels after Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly confronted her in a livestream, accusing her of failing to post required promotional content on her social media platforms.

After Nawat called for security to intervene, Bosch exited the room accompanied by Miss Iraq, while several contestants stood in apparent solidarity before stopping when Nawat warned that anyone wishing to remain in the competition should "sit down".

Bosch later told reporters that "what your director did is not respectful: he called me dumb," saying the confrontation needed to be witnessed because contestants were "empowered women and this is a platform for our voice".

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly supported Bosch following the incident, calling her an "example of how we women should speak out" in situations of aggression, a stance that echoed widely across Mexican media and online platforms.

Nawat, who had initially criticised Bosch during the confrontation, later apologised for his comments, though he refused to discuss her when approached on Friday, saying he would "rather not talk about her" and preferred fans to debate the matter.

During the same news conference, Nawat eventually offered congratulations to Bosch, telling reporters that he respected the result and extended well-wishes to supporters of Mexico following the conclusion of the event.

Interest in Bosch surged after the confrontation, with Mexican media providing extensive coverage, and in her hometown of Villahermosa thousands reportedly gathered at a baseball stadium to watch the pageant live amid chants of "Mexico, Mexico!".

Celebrations in Villahermosa intensified when Bosch was crowned, with crowds cheering and fireworks lighting the sky according to Mexican media reports, underscoring the heightened attention surrounding the contestant throughout the competition.

Additional turmoil unfolded during the pageant week when two judges resigned, one claiming that a "secret and illegitimate vote" had taken place without involvement of the official judging panel, prompting immediate denials from the organisers.

French composer Omar Harfouch, who resigned as a judge, said the vote had been conducted by individuals not recognised as official jurors, describing the process as irregular in a statement released on Instagram to explain his withdrawal.

The Miss Universe Organization rejected Harfouch's allegations, stating that "no impromptu jury has been created," and affirmed that no unauthorised voting procedure had been implemented during the competition.

Former professional footballer Claude Makelele also withdrew as a judge, citing "unforeseen personal reasons" in a statement posted on social media, adding another layer of uncertainty to the judging process ahead of the final.

Meanwhile, complications continued on stage when Miss Britain Danielle Latimer fell during the costume round on Wednesday, landing flat on the stage while wearing an outfit fashioned after the Cockney character Eliza Doolittle.

Another incident involved Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry, who was hospitalised after falling off the main stage during an evening gown showcase, with officials confirming her injuries were not serious but nevertheless requiring medical observation.

The president of the Miss Universe Organization Raul Rocha confirmed Henry's hospitalisation in a statement, while the Miss Universe Jamaica public relations director Shannon-Dale Reid said she was "resting under medical observation" following the fall.

Reid declined to provide further details on Thursday regarding Henry's condition or the cause of her fall, maintaining that medical staff continued to monitor her and that no major complications had been reported at that stage.

Despite the controversies, Bosch moved steadily through the competition, eventually joining Miss Thailand Praveenar Singh and Miss Venezuela Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser in the final moments before the top positions were announced on stage.

Photographs from the event captured Bosch standing with Singh and Nasser shortly before the results were declared, highlighting the tense atmosphere following the earlier dramatic episodes throughout the competition.

After being crowned, Bosch told reporters she hoped to be remembered as "a Miss Universe that wasn't afraid to be herself" and someone who "changed, a little bit, the prototype of what is a Miss Universe".

Her comments echoed the stance she expressed after confronting the organiser earlier in the month, reinforcing her message of using the platform to speak openly and assertively against behaviour she believed undermined contestants' dignity.

The competition, which drew global attention, unfolded under heightened scrutiny due to the combined controversies of resignations, disputes, falls and the widely publicised confrontation involving Bosch and the Thai organiser.

Despite the turmoil, the final ceremony proceeded with the crowning of Bosch, marking the conclusion of a turbulent edition of the Miss Universe pageant that drew significant international attention long before the winner was announced.

The evening ended with celebrations among contestants and supporters, bringing to a close a week dominated as much by behind-the-scenes drama as by the traditional displays of pageantry, performance and stagecraft that typically define the annual event.