Miss Mexico Fatima Bosch Crowned Miss Universe 2025 After Standing Up to Bullying

In a dramatic turn of events, Fatima Bosch of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on Friday, November 21, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand. The 25-year-old humanitarian's victory came just two weeks after she courageously stood up to bullying from a pageant executive, igniting a controversy that captivated audiences worldwide and ultimately redefined what it means to be Miss Universe.

A Triumph Over Adversity

Bosch's coronation represents more than just another beauty pageant victory—it's a powerful statement about standing up for dignity and respect. The fashion designer and volunteer received her crown from 2024 winner Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark, placing ahead of first runner-up Miss Thailand Praveenar Singh and second runner-up Miss Venezuela Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser.

The win is particularly significant given the tumultuous weeks leading up to the competition. In a final question about creating safe spaces for women, Bosch delivered a powerful response: "As a woman and as Miss Universe, I would put my voice in the power and the service of others. We are here to speak up, to make change because we are women, and the brave ones that stand up are the ones that will make history."

The Controversy That Shook Miss Universe

The Confrontation Heard Around the World

On November 4, 2025, during a livestreamed sash ceremony broadcast on Facebook, Thai media personality and Miss Universe Thailand director Nawat Itsaragrisil publicly berated Bosch in front of fellow contestants. The executive accused her of refusing to participate in promotional activities for the host country and called her "stupid" and a "dummy."

When Bosch stood up to defend herself, stating "I have a voice" and "You are not respecting me as a woman," Itsaragrisil called for security to escort her out. In a moment that would define the 2025 pageant, Bosch walked out of the auditorium—followed by several other contestants, including then-reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig.

The Aftermath and Organizational Response

Following the incident, Bosch addressed the media with remarkable composure: "Your director is not respectful. He called me dumb. I think that's not fair because I am here. I do everything okay. I don't mess with anyone. I just try to be kind. I think that the world needs to see this because we are empowered women and this is a platform for our voice."

The Miss Universe Organization swiftly responded by announcing sanctions against Itsaragrisil. Organization President Raul Rocha Cantu released a six-minute video statement criticizing the executive for showing "a lack of respect" and "the serious abuse of having called security to intimidate a defenseless woman, trying to silence and exclude her." The organization restricted Itsaragrisil's participation in pageant events, though he later issued a tearful apology.

Who Is Fatima Bosch?

From Designer to Beauty Queen

Born in Santiago de Teapa, part of Mexico's Tabasco state, Fatima Bosch studied fashion and apparel design before entering the pageant world. At 25, she had no prior beauty pageant experience before competing for the Miss Mexico title—a fact that makes her journey even more remarkable.

Bosch initially held reservations about pageants, telling Hola! magazine that she "used to have a poor impression of beauty pageants." However, conversations with the director of Miss Universe Mexico helped her realize that "they are making history by changing the narrative."

A Humanitarian at Heart

According to her official Miss Universe biography, Bosch has dedicated significant time to humanitarian causes, including volunteering with sick children, promoting environmental awareness, and supporting migrants and mental health initiatives. In an Instagram post before the competition, she wrote: "My purpose in this life is to serve. That is the reason I am in Miss Universe, to let my voice bring light to every corner where there has only been darkness."

In a prophetic childhood video that resurfaced during the competition, 5-year-old Fatima was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. Her response? "I want to help all people"—accompanied by what she now describes as an almost "beauty queen wave."

A Pageant Plagued by Controversy

The 2025 Miss Universe competition was marked by unprecedented drama beyond the Bosch-Itsaragrisil confrontation. Just days before the finals, two of the eight judges abruptly resigned. Lebanese-French composer Omar Harfouch alleged the competition was rigged, claiming that a "secret vote" selected 30 finalists without official jury involvement. The Miss Universe Organization vehemently denied these accusations.

During preliminary rounds, Miss Jamaica Dr. Gabrielle Henry suffered a shocking fall from the stage during the evening gown competition. She was taken away on a stretcher and, though she sustained no broken bones, was unable to compete in the finals while under hospital observation in Bangkok.

Mexico Celebrates Historic Victory

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum—the country's first female president—praised Bosch's victory during her daily press briefing. "I like that she spoke up when she felt that was an injustice and that is an example," Sheinbaum said. "That thing they said about being prettier when you're quiet has been left behind. Women are prettier when we speak and we participate."

This marks Mexico's fourth Miss Universe crown, solidifying the nation's position as a pageant powerhouse. Bosch's victory resonates particularly strongly in an era where authenticity and advocacy are increasingly valued over traditional pageant conventions.

Redefining Miss Universe for a New Era

Following her coronation, Bosch expressed her vision for the title: "I would like to be remembered as a person that changed a little bit the prototype of what is a Miss Universe." Her journey from confrontation to coronation embodies a shift in beauty pageant culture—from passive beauty to active advocacy, from silence to speaking truth to power.

The 2025 pageant, despite—or perhaps because of—its controversies, has highlighted evolving standards in the pageant world. As Miss Universe continues to grapple with declining viewership and questions about relevance in the modern age, Bosch's coronation suggests a path forward: authentic women with powerful voices who refuse to be silenced.

What's Next for Miss Universe?

Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón announced that the island territory will host the Miss Universe 2026 competition, continuing the organization's tradition of rotating host countries. As for Fatima Bosch, she begins her reign with a message that transcends traditional pageant rhetoric: empowerment through voice, change through courage, and history made by those brave enough to stand up.