MANILA, Philippines — Mexico’s Fatima Bosch made historical past after being hailed because the 74th Miss Universe, besting over 100 contestants on the pageant’s finale on Friday, November 21, on the Impression Challenger Corridor in Thailand. However even earlier than her crowning, the wonder queen already made headlines because of the a number of scandals that unfolded all through the competitors.
From energy struggles to allegations of predetermined judging, Fatima’s identify has been tied to controversies and speculations from pageant followers, with some commenting that her win is a “peace providing” from the organizers.
Past these allegations, nevertheless, the problem doesn’t level to the Latina queen herself however to a deeper, extra layered battle inside the group, marked by political pursuits and a continuing tug-of-war for energy that shapes the end result of what’s thought to be one of the prestigious platforms for girls.
A peace providing for a ‘dumbhead’ callout
One of the vital heated points on this yr’s pageant was the walkout of a number of candidates through the basic orientation and sashing ceremony.
Fatima discovered herself on the middle of the commotion after a heated argument with Nawat Itsaragrisil, government director of the Miss Universe Group (MUO) and the top organizer of this yr’s competitors.
In the course of the occasion on November 4, the Thai businessman, who can also be the founding father of one other main pageant, reprimanded Fatima for not collaborating in a sponsor shoot meant to advertise the host nation.
In Fatima’s protection, she defined that she was solely following directions from Miss Universe Mexico, headed by Raul Rocha Cantu, who additionally serves as the present president of MUO.
Nawat continued to chastise her, even calling her “dumbhead,” an alternate that pushed Fatima to stroll out of the room, adopted by a number of candidates who expressed solidarity along with her.
Exterior the venue, she voiced her sentiments to the media, asserting that she refused to let her dignity be undermined and hoped the second would function an eye-opener for different delegates.
“And I feel the world must see this, as a result of we’re empowered ladies, and this can be a platform for our voice, and nobody can shut our voice. And nobody will do this to me,” she stated.
After negotiations amongst organizers and delegates, the sashing ceremony resumed, although the strain between Fatima and Nawat remained seen.
The subsequent day, MUO launched an official video assertion from Raul Rocha condemning the Thai organizer’s habits and stating that he could be proscribing and even eradicating Nawat from the remainder of the scheduled actions.
“He humiliated, insulted, and confirmed an absence of respect, along with the intense abuse of getting known as safety to intimidate a defenseless girl, making an attempt to silence and exclude her,” Raul stated.
Nawat later issued apologies by way of social media and through the Welcome Ceremony, saying he didn’t intend to harm anybody and was beneath stress from organizing the competitors.
Regardless of the restrictions, he continued to look in scheduled occasions, and through finals evening, he was seen seated beside Raul and different MUO executives, even exchanging pleasant gestures.
From this controversy grew on-line commentary, particularly amongst Filipino followers, that Fatima’s win was Miss Universe’s “peace providing” to Mexico.
Whereas a lot of it was stated in jest, it displays the underlying perception that the pageant’s group has turn out to be a battleground for 2 businessmen from completely different nations vying for affect and management.
Tug-of-war over possession, legacy
For over seven many years, the Miss Universe Group has been primarily beneath possession of corporations from america. This shifted in 2022 when Thailand-based JKN International bought the trademark, putting Anne Jakrajutatip on the helm of MUO.
The panorama grew extra sophisticated in 2024 when JKN bought half of its stake to the Mexico-based Legacy Holding by way of Raul Rocha, following monetary challenges inside JKN.
Anne’s resignation afterward created an influence vacuum inside her firm and MUO, which was later addressed after the restructuring of its boards and Raul’s announcement because the official head of operations.
Thai affect, nevertheless, remained current when MUO appointed Nawat Itsaragrisil as government director, granting him authority to arrange the 74th version of the pageant in his residence nation by way of the Miss Universe Thailand (MUT) franchise, which he owns.
This primary main partnership between the 2 enterprise teams proved rocky, with public remarks exchanged relating to management and coordination points.
Among the many issues raised have been the inclusion of a sponsor whose enterprise operations are unlawful in Thailand and MUT’s execution of an occasion not licensed by the primary group, which was finally cancelled regardless of receiving important consideration.
These situations deepened the rift between Raul and Nawat, which many consider contributed to Nawat’s outburst towards Fatima, who’s beneath Raul’s directive.
In a worldwide present pushed by enterprise and recognition, this energy battle has inevitably impacted how the competitors is run — and the way its ultimate outcomes are perceived — in the end overshadowing the true strengths of the candidates onstage.
Allegations of rigged outcomes
This rumor of the pageant being arrange intensified much more when two judges publicly withdrew days earlier than the finale, marking one more scandal earlier than crowning evening.
One in every of them, Omar Harfouch, a Lebanese-French composer, shocked many pageant followers when he accused MUO of predetermining the semifinalists by way of what he described as an impromptu jury fashioned outdoors the official judging panel.
“An impromptu jury has been fashioned to pick out 30 finalists from among the many 136 collaborating nations, with out the presence of any of the actual [eight] members of the jury, together with me,” Omar posted on Instagram.
MUO later confirmed his withdrawal and denied his claims, saying he mistook the occasion for the “Past the Crown” program, which is separate from the primary competitors.
In its assertion, MUO acknowledged his resignation however emphasised that he’s now not permitted to make use of or reference any Miss Universe-affiliated branding.
Regardless of this, Omar escalated his accusations on the day of the pageant, declaring Fatima a “faux Miss Universe” and insisting he had already predicted her win as a result of her household’s enterprise ties with Raul.
He claimed that Raul and his son urged him to vote for Fatima every week earlier in Dubai as a result of “it will likely be good for our enterprise.”
MUO has not launched an extra response to those accusations, although Raul was seen making an attempt to disclaim the claims through the post-pageant press convention.
However whatever the reality, Omar’s statements fueled rising skepticism concerning the legitimacy of the outcomes, with some followers overtly expressing disappointment contained in the venue.
In the long run, amid the noise, accusations, and criticism she continues to face, Fatima Bosch stays a candidate who stepped onto the Miss Universe stage carrying a dream she labored years to succeed in.
And as she is topped in what many take into account one of the controversy-filled editions of the pageant, it turns into clear that the bigger points surrounding her victory don’t relaxation on her shoulders, however inside the sophisticated system of people that function the competitors as a enterprise.
Behind the glamour of the crown are energy struggles and company pursuits that form the narrative way over any contestant may. In the end, she stands as one participant caught within the cross currents of companies pushed by affect, legacy, and management. – Rappler.com
