A Tumultuous Pageant Concludes in Bangkok

BANGKOK, THAILAND – In a finale marked by preceding drama, Fátima Bosch of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe on Friday, November 21, 2025, at the Impact Challenger Hall. The ceremony, held in Bangkok, Thailand, concluded the 74th edition of the global pageant, which saw Miss Thailand, Praveenar Singh, named first runner-up. However, the crowning moment followed a period of intense turmoil, including public walkouts by contestants and the abrupt resignation of two judges, casting a long shadow over the competition's integrity.

Allegations of Mistreatment and Rigging Emerge

The pageant's troubles ignited earlier in November during a live-streamed sashing ceremony. A senior pageant executive, Nawat Itsaragrisil, who is also the Thai co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, publicly berated Miss Mexico, Fátima Bosch, for allegedly not participating in promotional activities. In the heated exchange, Itsaragrisil reportedly called Bosch "dumb," prompting her to walk out in protest. In an act of solidarity, several other contestants, including the reigning Miss Universe Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark, also left the event. The incident drew widespread condemnation, with the pageant's Mexican co-owner and president, Raul Rocha Cantú, issuing a statement describing the verbal attack as an "aggression" and subsequently limiting Itsaragrisil's role in the remainder of the event.

Further damaging the pageant's credibility, two judges resigned just days before the Friday final. Composer Omar Harfouch announced his departure on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, alleging a "lack of transparency" and claiming the top 30 finalists had been pre-selected by a secret, "impromptu jury." Harfouch stated he refused to be part of a "charade" and legitimize a vote he did not participate in. Hours later, former French football star Claude Makélélé also stepped down, citing "unforeseen personal reasons." The Miss Universe Organization denied Harfouch's rigging allegations, stating his claims "mischaracterize" the judging process and that all procedures were transparent and followed official protocols.

Ownership and a Push for Relevance

The controversies have highlighted what analysts describe as cultural and strategic differences between the pageant's joint owners: Thailand's JKN Global Group, headed by Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, and Mexico's Legacy Holding Group, led by Raúl Rocha Cantú. The organization has been striving to evolve from an annual television event into a modern media brand, aiming for relevance in the age of social media. Founded in the United States in 1952, the pageant aims to be a platform for women to advocate for global causes. However, this year's events have renewed debate about the place of beauty pageants in contemporary society, with critics questioning their claims of female empowerment.

Kenya's Absence on the Global Stage

Notably, Kenya was not among the 120 countries participating in this year's competition. The Miss Universe Kenya organization did not appoint a delegate for the 2025 pageant, marking a withdrawal from the event. The last representative from Kenya was Irene Ng'endo, who competed in the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico in November 2024. Kenya's highest-ever placement was in 2016, when Mary Esther Were finished in the Top 6. While there was no official representation, a young Kenyan, Gloria Karen, was crowned Mini Miss Universe International 2025 in a separate pageant held in Goa, India, in September 2025. The absence of a Kenyan contestant in the main Miss Universe pageant means the country had no direct stake in the controversial proceedings in Bangkok, but the outcome and the debate around the pageant's future continue to be of global interest.