She went from walking out after being publicly chided by the pageant’s co-owner to being crowned its 74th victor.
Fátima Bosch Fernández of Mexico was named Miss Universe on Friday, bringing to a close an exceptionally controversial pageant that first made headlines after Thai official Nawat Itsaragrisil berated Bosch, 25, in front of several contestants for not participating in promotional activities.
The competition was further plunged into disarray when two of its judges resigned, one of whom accused the organizers of rigging and threatened a lawsuit.
It came as Miss Universe, which makes its revenue from licensing its broadcasting rights to various countries, has faced declining viewership in part from concerns over what some see as its objectification of women and declining relevance.
The competition was started in 1952 by a Californian swimwear brand and owned, at least in part, by President Donald Trump from 1996 till 2022.
But this year’s pageant became a symbol of a different kind.
“It seems to me that it is an example of how women should raise our voices,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, the country’s first female leader, told reporters, referring to Bosch standing up to one of the hosts.
“We women look more beautiful when we raise our voice and participate, because that has to do with the recognition of our rights,” she said, adding that she wanted to give “recognition” to Bosch for voicing her disagreement in a “dignified” way.”
Miss Thailand Praveener Singh, 29, was crowned the first runner-up, followed by Miss Venezuela Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser, 25.
The pageant is seldom devoid of controversy, with sexual harassment and rigging complaints almost every year. And this year was no exception.
Nawat, the Thai national director, hectored Bosch for not following the promotional activities guidelines in a livestreamed sashing ceremony on Nov. 4 and called security when the Mexican delegate stood up for herself.
Bosch refused to be silenced and walked out unbowed, joined by others, including last year’s winner, Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig.
“What your director did is not respectful: he called me dumb,” Bosch told Thai reporters then. “If it takes away your dignity, you need to go.”
The public embarrassment for the organizers was palpable, prompting Miss Universe’s co-owner, Mexican businessman Raúl Rocha Cantú, to call out Nawat, saying he won’t let contestants be “humiliated.”
Nawat later offered a teary apology.
“If anyone (was) affected and not comfortable it happened, I am so sorry,” he said with the contestants behind him. He then turned to them and said, “It’s passed. OK? Are you happy?”
Then, Omar Harfouch, a Lebanese-French composer, stepped down from the eight-member jury panel, saying Tuesday that there had been a "secret vote" by people not officially part of the jury to preselect the top 130 contestants out of 136.
Hours later, another judge, former French soccer star Claude Makélélé, announced he was stepping down, citing “unforeseen personal reasons.”
Harfouch on Wednesday said he was considering suing the Miss Universe Organization, which runs the competition, citing emotional trauma and reputational damage.
The organization has denied his claims, saying there was no impromptu jury.
Meanwhile, Garbielle Henry of Jamaica is recovering at a hospital after she fell offstage on Wednesday during a preliminary round.
