From management shake-ups to on-stage falls, the 2025 version of Miss Universe has been one wild journey. Right here’s a recap of every little thing that went down earlier than Mexico’s Fátima Bosch lastly walked away with the crown in Bangkok at present (November 21).
The primary domino falls: Management adjustments proper earlier than the competitors
Miss Universe kicked off the season with a shock company twist. The organisation introduced a brand new CEO, former diplomat Mario Búcaro, simply days earlier than the pageant changed the unique CEO Anne Jakrajutatip. Anne had purchased the Miss Universe model in 2022 for $20 million and made historical past as its first lady (and first trans lady) proprietor.
Anne had promised to usher in a “new period” for girls’s empowerment, declaring, “Any further, it’s going to be run by ladies, owned by a trans lady, for all ladies all over the world.” However in October 2024, she quietly stepped down amid critical monetary troubles at her firm, JKN International Group, which later confronted a chapter petition and a fraud investigation.
In her place, Mario took cost alongside Raul Rocha, who turned president after Anne bought half the corporate’s stake earlier in 2024. Anee has not publicly commented on her resignation.
The viral walkout
The true chaos, although, started on November 4, when Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil clashed with Miss Mexico 2025 Fátima Bosch throughout a gathering with all of the contestants. The worst half? It was all caught reside on Fb.
Nawat accused Fátima of skipping a promotional occasion and, throughout the heated trade, advised her, “In case you hearken to your director, you’re a dumbhead.” Bosch replied calmly, “You aren’t respecting me as a lady.” The confrontation led a number of contestants to stroll out in protest. Nawat reportedly demanded they sit again down, saying, “If anybody needs to proceed the competition, sit down.”
Amid rising backlash, Miss Universe president Raul Rocha stepped in, releasing a press release that he had restricted Nawat’s participation in future pageant occasions, calling his actions “a critical abuse.” Raul added, “The one ones who ought to shine are our delegates who characterize every of their international locations with dignity.”
A tearful Nawat later apologised publicly, saying, “I’m human. I didn’t need to do something like that.”
Racism, rumours, and a ‘cocaine snorting’ TikTok
Simply because the mud started to settle, a former Miss Universe stirred the pot once more. Alicia Machado, Miss Universe 1996, made racist remarks about Nawat throughout an Instagram Reside, referring to him as Chinese language and saying “everybody with slanted eyes” regarded Chinese language to her — even pulling again her eyes on digicam.
Then, Miss Chile 2025 Inna Moll shocked followers with a TikTok exhibiting her pretending to snort a line of powder as a part of a make-up transition development. After widespread backlash, Inna deleted the video and apologised, saying it was a misunderstanding because of a language barrier. Her make-up artist, who urged the thought, additionally issued a public apology.
Judges drop out
As if that wasn’t sufficient, three judges — pianist and composer Omar Harfouch and former skilled French soccer participant Claude Makélélé — withdrew simply days earlier than the finals. Omar alleged that the Miss Universe organisation held a “secret vote” involving individuals exterior the official jury whereas Claude claimed “unexpected private causes” for his exit from the jury.
Moreover, Princess Camilla di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, president of the Miss Universe choice committee, had additionally reportedly stepped down from her judging position. The Miss Universe organisers denied Omar’s declare, clarifying that the so-called committee was a separate “social impression” panel unrelated to judging.
Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry falls off the stage
In the meantime, tragedy almost struck throughout the preliminaries when Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry fell off the stage throughout the preliminary night robe spherical on Wednesday in Bangkok. She was hospitalised with minor accidents however, fortunately, suffered no damaged bones. Miss Universe president Raul posted an replace on his Instagram web page later that night time saying, “Fortunately, there are not any damaged bones and she or he is underneath excellent care. She’s going to stay underneath commentary for the remainder of the night time.”
Gabrielle is 29 years previous and works as an ophthalmologist who created a basis to advocate for people who find themselves visually impaired. She was noticeably absent from the remainder of the occasions.
Miss Mexico topped, Omar exposes scandal
Regardless of the whirlwind of scandals, the night time ended with a triumph that pageant followers may lastly agree on. Fátima Bosch of Mexico was topped Miss Universe 2025 on November 21 in Bangkok.
Her win felt like poetic justice — till a number of hours later, when controversy struck once more. Omar, one of many judges who had earlier stepped down, took to Instagram with a collection of explosive posts claiming that “Miss Mexico is a pretend winner.”
In his posts, Omar alleged that he had predicted Fátima’s win a day earlier than the finale, telling HBO that Miss Universe proprietor Raúl Rocha was “in enterprise with Fátima’s father.” He added that “all particulars might be proven in Might 2026 on HBO.” Omar additional claimed that “Raúl Rocha and his son urged me, every week in the past in Dubai, to vote for #FatimaBosch as a result of they want her to win — ‘as a result of it is going to be good for our enterprise,’ they stated to me.”
One factor’s for positive — Miss Universe 2025 may need its queen, however the drama’s nonetheless sporting the crown.