{"id":258821,"date":"2025-11-21T05:58:44","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T09:58:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=258821"},"modified":"2025-11-21T05:58:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T09:58:45","slug":"mexicos-fatima-bosch-crowned-miss-universe-winner-in-glittering-finale-of-scandal-hit-pageant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/mexicos-fatima-bosch-crowned-miss-universe-winner-in-glittering-finale-of-scandal-hit-pageant\/","title":{"rendered":"Mexico\u2019s Fatima Bosch crowned Miss Universe winner in glittering finale of scandal-hit pageant"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CNN-Fatima Bosch of Mexico has been named Miss Universe 2025 in a scandal-hit competition where she emerged as a fan favorite after she was\u00a0berated<\/a>\u00a0by a Thai pageant director during a pre-pageant meeting, triggering a walk out by contestants.<\/p>

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The 25-year-old humanitarian and volunteer was crowned by last year\u2019s winner Victoria Kj\u00e6r Theilvig<\/a> from Denmark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miss Universe is widely known as the \u201cSuper Bowl\u201d of beauty pageants and draws millions of viewers each year. Delegates for each country are selected via local pageants that license local rights from the Miss Universe Organization.<\/p>

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Thailand\u2019s Praveenar Singh came runner up, with Venezuela\u2019s Stephany Abasali, Philippines\u2019 Ahtisa Manalo<\/a> and Ivory Coast\u2019s Olivia Yac\u00e9 also making it to the top 5.<\/p>

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Thailand, this year\u2019s host country, has a vibrant and lucrative pageant industry with one of the largest fanbases in Asia, alongside the Philippines.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The event featured representatives from 120 countries. Nadeen Ayoub became the first woman to represent Palestinian people<\/a> at the pageant, and made it to the final 30 semifinalists before she was eliminated. Friday\u2019s finale was hosted by American comedian Steve Byrne and opened with a performance by Thai singer Jeff Satur.<\/p>

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\"Miss<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Miss Palestine Nadeen Ayoub takes part in the final competition of the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok, on November 21, 2025. Lillian Suwanrumpha\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the swimwear round, the top 30 contestants were narrowed down to 12, and then down to 5 after the evening round.<\/p>

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Finalists were asked questions including which global issue they would speak about in front of the United Nations General Assembly, and how they would use the Miss Universe platform to empower young girls.<\/p>

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\u201cBelieve in the power of your authenticity,\u201d Bosch said. \u201cYour dreams matter, your heart matters. Never let anyone make you doubt your worth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The competition took place over three weeks, with delegates traveling around the country to rehearse and participate in events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Wednesday, the beauty queens competed in the national costume showcase, which saw contestants donning flamboyant outfits designed to highlight their homelands. Miss USA, Audrey Eckert, paid homage to her home with an elaborate bald eagle costume<\/a> designed by Simon Villalba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Miss USA Audrey Eckert competes in the national costume competition at the Miss Universe beauty pageant in Nonthaburi province, Thailand, Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Sakchai Lalit\/AP<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The contestant from Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, took a scary tumble during the evening gown round at Wednesday\u2019s preliminaries and was carried away in a stretcher, according to social media videos which circulated of her fall. Miss Universe President Raul Rocha said in an update to Instagram<\/a> that Henry was \u201cunder good care\u201d in hospital and that she had not broken any bones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pageant controversies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s Miss Universe competition was beset by controversy and internal drama in the weeks leading up to coronation night. The walk out sparked conversations over the merits of the international beauty pageant which claims to promote female empowerment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a live-streamed pre-pageant meeting earlier this month, Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly scolded Bosch,<\/a> for not posting enough promotional content, appearing to call her a \u201cdumbhead,\u201d though Nawat denied this, insisting that he had actually accused her of causing \u201cdamage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Bosch pushed back against the insults, Nawat called security to escort her out of the room. Other contestants then stood up and walked out in solidarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident drew global backlash, including from Mexico\u2019s president Claudia Sheinbaum, who described it as an \u201caggression\u201d that Bosch handled with \u201cdignity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Miss Universe Organization condemned Nawat\u2019s behavior and limited his role in the pageant. Nawat apologized in a livestreamed welcome ceremony and declined to comment further on the incident to CNN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado, was criticized for making racist comments in an Instagram live video discussing the incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Machado referred to Nawat as \u201cthat despicable Chinese,\u201d and when a commentor pointed out he is Thai, Machado said \u201cChinese, Thai, Korean. To me all these people with slanted eyes like this are all Chinese,\u201d while pulling up the corners of her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Machado\u2019s representative did not respond to a request for comment from CNN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Miss Spain Andrea Valero walks on stage during the costume round on November 19, 2025. Lillian Suwanrumpha\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Judge steps down, says pageant is rigged<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Two judges abruptly stepped down from the competition days before the winner was crowned, with one accusing the pageant of being rigged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Composer Omar Harfouch said on Instagram he had resigned from the eight-member judging panel, and claimed there was a secret, \u201cimpromptu\u201d panel of judges who had pre-selected the top 30 contestants in advance of the final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI could not stand before the public and television cameras, pretending to legitimize a vote I never took part in,\u201d Harfouch said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Miss Universe Organization said Harfouch\u2019s claims \u201cmischaracterize\u201d the judging process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Miss Universe Organization firmly clarifies that no impromptu jury has been created, that no external group has been authorized to evaluate delegates or select finalists, and that all competition evaluations continue to follow the established, transparent, and supervised MUO protocols,\u201d the organization said in a statement.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Miss Universe Organization did not respond to a request for comment from CNN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Contestants<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Contestants take part in the 74th Miss Universe pageant, in Bangkok, Thailand, November 21, 2025. Chalinee Thirasupa\/Reuters<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A second judge, former French soccer star Claude Mak\u00e9l\u00e9l\u00e9, stepped down the same day, citing \u201cunforeseen personal reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hold Miss Universe in the highest regard,\u201d he said on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n